NIHSA Issues Major Flood Warning for September 19-25, 2026

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More than 8,000 communities and 4,500 schools across 15 states face severe flooding risks between September 19 and 25, 2026, according to the latest National Flood Advisory issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

The agency warned that surging water levels along major river basins and key coastal corridors could trigger widespread inundation. The anticipated rising waters threaten critical social infrastructure—including primary and secondary schools, healthcare centers, public markets, religious institutions, and expansive agricultural farmlands across the affected regions.

The urgent alert was contained in an official bulletin released in Abuja on Saturday by NIHSA Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Arch Umar Mohammed.

According to the advisory, the high-risk zones span 15 states across the South-South, South-East, North-Central, and South-West geopolitical zones:

South-South: Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Edo states.

South-East: Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, and Imo states.

North-Central & North-East: Benue, Kogi, and Taraba states.

South-West: Lagos State.

The agency attributed the sudden increase in flood threats to persistent heavy seasonal rainfall, sustained peak river runoff from upstream tributaries along the Niger and Benue rivers, and elevated coastal tide surges. NIHSA urged state disaster management agencies (SEMA), local government authorities, and community leaders in low-lying riparian areas to immediately activate emergency preparedness plans, clear drainage channels, and execute preventive evacuation measures for vulnerable populations.