The Federal Ministry of Environment has issued a flood alert to 14 states, warning that 43 locations may experience heavy rainfall that could trigger flooding between September 4 and 8, 2025.
The warning was released on Thursday by the ministry’s National Flood Early Warning Centre and signed by Usman Abdullahi Bokani, Director of the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department.
Flooding has remained one of Nigeria’s toughest environmental challenges, displacing families, destroying farmlands, and spreading waterborne diseases. In recent years, climate change and poor drainage infrastructure have made many communities more vulnerable during the rainy season.
According to the alert, the states at risk include Ebonyi (Afikpo), Cross River (Edor, Ikom, Itigidi, Akpap), Kano (Gwarzo, Karaye), Zamfara (Anka, Gummi, Kaura Namoda, Maradun, Shinkafi, Bukkuyum), Taraba (Dampar, Gembu, Mutum Biyu, and others), Abia (Umuahia, Eziama), Yobe (Geidam, Kanama, Potiskum), Plateau (Langtang, Shendam, Wase), Borno (Ngala), Imo (Okigwe, Otoko), Niger (Sarki Pawa), Sokoto (Sokoto, Wamakko, Isa, Shagari, Makira), Kaduna (Kafanchan), and Akwa Ibom (Oron).
The latest alert comes shortly after the Federal Government received a $1 million donation from China to support flood victims in northern Nigeria. Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, described the intervention as timely and pledged that the funds would be used transparently to provide relief materials and help rebuild communities.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said Beijing stood in solidarity with Nigerians, noting that both countries had recently suffered devastating floods.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier forecast thunderstorms and rainfall in many parts of the country this week, with warnings of flash floods in Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, and Kano States.