The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has issued an alert of flood impacting large parts of the country in 2026, with hundreds of local government areas identified as high-risk zones.
The alert is contained in the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook released by the agency, which projects that at least 266 local government areas across 33 states could experience significant flooding.
According to the report, more than 14,000 communities fall within vulnerable zones, with flooding expected to occur between April and November at varying levels of intensity.
States, including Lagos State, Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Delta State, Anambra State, Benue State, Kano State, and Borno State are listed among the most exposed, driven by factors such as intense rainfall patterns, inadequate drainage infrastructure, rising sea levels, and rapid urbanisation.
Urban centres like Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and Kano are also projected to face flash floods and urban inundation, while coastal regions remain vulnerable to tidal surges and river overflows.
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Authorities have called on state governments and local communities to intensify preparedness measures, including clearing drainage systems, activating early warning mechanisms, and strengthening emergency response frameworks to mitigate potential damage.
Beyond the projections, the outlook highlights a persistent national concern, where the combined pressures of climate change, weak infrastructure, and unregulated urban growth continue to amplify the impact of seasonal rainfall, turning it into a recurring humanitarian and economic challenge.
