Floods are expected to affect 33 Nigerian states in 2026, according to the Federal Government's Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released on Wednesday. The prediction covers Bayelsa, Delta, Adamawa, Kebbi and 29 other states, though the full list was not provided in the announcement. The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Joseph Utsev, disclosed the forecast in a keynote address during the AFO public presentation at the Presidential Banquet. The outlook is based on hydrological and meteorological data collected ahead of the 2026 rainy season. The government said early warning systems and flood mitigation strategies are being coordinated across relevant agencies. Specific risk levels and timelines for each state were not detailed in the initial release.
Engr Joseph Utsev, as Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, is once again fronting a national flood forecast that names more than half the country as high-risk—yet offers no new infrastructure, funding, or timeline to address the looming threat. The release of the 2026 AFO follows the same pattern as previous years: a broad warning without actionable plans or accountability for past shortfalls.
This annual outlook has become a ritual rather than a response mechanism. Despite previous AFOs flagging the same states—Bayelsa, Delta, Adamawa—floods continue to displace thousands, destroy farmland, and overwhelm urban drainage systems. The absence of specific mitigation measures in this year's statement suggests the government is still prioritizing notification over preparation.
Ordinary Nigerians in flood-prone communities will bear the brunt once again, particularly rural farmers and low-income urban dwellers whose homes and livelihoods are routinely washed away. Without concrete investment in drainage systems, early evacuation plans, and land use policies, the AFO remains a document of documentation, not defense.
This is not an isolated failure but part of a recurring cycle in which disaster management in Nigeria stops at the press briefing.
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