The federal government says it will commence a nationwide flood awareness campaign to educate and sensitise Nigerians on the dangers and safety measures related to flooding.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Kunle Awojemila, a deputy director at the department of flood, erosion control and coastal management at the federal ministry of environment, said the sensitisation would commence next month.
According to the federal government, between April and November this year, there would be major floods in about 1,249 places across 176 local government areas in 30 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).
“We are starting the flood awareness sensitisation campaign in the first week of May,” the statement reads.
“In the FCT, we will begin in Dutse, then move to areas like Lokogoma, Lugbe, and others, consequently.
“Other states will commence their awareness campaigns as well.”
Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, and Jigawa are among the states at risk of flooding, according to Joseph Utsev, the minister of water resources and sanitation.
The minister spoke during the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency’s official presentation of the 2025 annual flood outlook in Abuja.
Other locations include Abuja, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Kebbi, Kogi, and Kwara.
Flooding is still one of Nigeria’s most destructive natural catastrophes, the minister stressed, and climate change is making floods more frequent and more severe.
Zubaida Umar, the director-general of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), highlighted on Sunday the critical need to improve emergency preparation at the local level, particularly in light of the impending rainy season and possible flood catastrophes.
The DG spoke through Kofoworola Soleye, the head of NEMA’s Ekiti operations office, at an event in Ado Ekiti.
“Sensitising the residents at the grassroots level to understand their exposure to hazards, safety measures and how to respond to emergencies, especially with the onset of the rains, would go a long way in mitigating the adverse impact of flood disaster,” she said.
The effort was started, according to Umar, to bridge the knowledge gap in flood-prone communities.
“Flood disaster in recent times has claimed several lives and destroyed properties worth millions of naira,” she said.
“Despite ongoing response efforts, many communities remain unaware of basic preparedness measures and response strategies as regards flood disasters.”
