The Federal Government has raised the alarm over the growing threat of flooding across Nigeria, warning that more than 8,000 communities and about 4,500 schools are at risk as the country enters the peak of the rainy season.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting on flood preparedness, stressing the need for urgent preventive measures to protect lives, property and critical infrastructure.
According to the minister, the flood threat extends to hundreds of local government areas nationwide, with vulnerable communities located along major rivers and floodplains facing the greatest danger.
He said schools, health facilities, roads and farmlands could also be severely affected if precautionary measures are not implemented.
Utsev urged state governments, local authorities and residents of flood-prone areas to take early warnings seriously, clear drainage channels and relocate from high-risk locations where necessary.
He noted that the government had strengthened flood-monitoring and early-warning systems through collaboration with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, to provide timely information on impending floods.
The minister also called on schools identified as being at risk to develop emergency response plans to ensure the safety of pupils and staff in the event of flooding.
The warning comes amid recurring flood disasters in several parts of the country. In recent years, flooding has claimed lives, displaced thousands of residents and destroyed homes, farms, roads and public facilities. In 2025, authorities warned that millions of Nigerians were vulnerable to flooding, with several states classified as high-risk areas.
Experts have attributed the increasing frequency and severity of floods to heavy rainfall, poor drainage systems, unregulated development on waterways and the effects of climate change.
They have repeatedly called for improved urban planning, investment in drainage infrastructure and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to reducing the impact of flooding through early-warning mechanisms, public awareness campaigns and coordinated emergency response efforts, while urging citizens to remain vigilant throughout the rainy season.
