A sustainability and adaptation expert has warned that approximately 30,000 communities across Nigeria face varying degrees of flood risk in 2026, urging stronger and more coordinated preparedness measures to mitigate the anticipated flooding impact nationwide.
Expert Highlights Flood Risk Levels
Opeyemi Ogundeji, a PhD researcher in the Department of Sustainability Studies at the University of Ibadan and an adaptation and resilience specialist, issued the warning. She emphasized that floods have become one of the most recurring hazards globally, with widespread consequences for lives, infrastructure, and livelihoods.
According to her, the 2026 Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) has played a critical role in strengthening preparedness by providing seasonal flood forecasts. The AFO integrates traditional hydrological models with ground data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to improve accuracy.
The AFO classifies flood risk in Nigeria into three categories:
- High-risk areas: Flooding expected to pose severe threats to lives, property, infrastructure, and livelihoods, often requiring evacuation planning.
- Medium-risk areas: Flooding may damage farmlands, residential outskirts, and local roads, requiring monitoring and preparedness.
- Low-risk areas: Flood occurrence is less likely but still requires public awareness and precautionary action.
She further highlighted that the critical flood period for 2026 is projected between July and September. During this period, an estimated 30,707 communities, 4,792 healthcare centers, 10,684 educational institutions, and about 4.2 million hectares of farmland are at risk.
The expert identified 34 states classified as high-risk during this period: Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
NEC Approves N83.2 Billion Intervention
Meanwhile, the National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday approved the release of N83.2 billion for flood preparedness and climate disaster mitigation across the country. The council defended its decision to slash a N166.4 billion intervention proposal by half, insisting that additional resources could be deployed as the situation unfolds.
The council, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, also moved to strengthen Nigeria's regional development architecture by considering a proposed National Regional Development Policy (NRDP) 2026-2030. This policy aims to address longstanding development disparities across the country's regions.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu said NEC approved N83.21 billion, representing 50 percent of the amount requested under the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF). The AATF was established to coordinate early interventions against flooding and other climate-related disasters.
The proposal, presented by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, had sought approval for the disbursement of N166.42 billion through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) mechanism to designated implementing agencies and beneficiaries.
