The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has warned that 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are at risk of flooding in 2026. Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during the presentation of the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Utsev stated that 14,118 communities across 266 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have been classified as high-risk. The affected states include Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara. An additional 15,597 communities in 405 LGAs across 35 states face moderate risk, while 923 communities in 77 LGAs across 24 states are in low-risk categories. Ekiti State is the only state not expected to experience flooding. Utsev highlighted risks of flash and urban flooding in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Kano, with coastal and riverine flooding anticipated in Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Ondo due to rising sea levels and tidal surges. He attributed increasing flood incidents to climate variability, rapid urbanisation, poor drainage and land-use practices. The Federal Government is improving hydrological monitoring through automated river gauges, advanced modelling and collaboration with NiMet and NEMA. State governments were urged to integrate flood risk into urban planning and strengthen community preparedness.
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