The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has issued a flood advisory warning of possible medium-level flood risk in several states between July 14 and July 20.
NIHSA Director-General, Umar Mohammed, said the alert was based on the agency’s latest hydrological forecast.
According to the agency, the forecast points to possible localised flooding along major river channels within the period.
Mohammed said 16 monitoring stations had also been identified as high-risk locations in the latest assessment.
States listed in the advisory include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger and Plateau.
NIHSA warned that some local government areas and communities could be affected if early precautionary measures are not taken.
The agency said vulnerable locations may include schools, health facilities, markets and other public spaces in flood-prone communities.
Mohammed explained that the Annual Flood Outlook provides predictions and analysis of possible flooding scenarios across Nigeria during the rainy season.
He said the outlook is designed to help governments, emergency agencies and communities prepare for possible flood events.
According to him, the forecast supports disaster preparedness, response planning and flood risk reduction across the country.
The NIHSA director-general urged state governments and emergency management agencies to strengthen early warning systems.
He also advised them to prepare evacuation plans and intensify public awareness campaigns in vulnerable areas.
Mohammed identified Saminara on the Karam River, Waya Dam Site on the Waya River and Amber on the Amber River as some of the critical locations along the projected flood path.
He advised residents in flood-prone communities to move to safer areas where necessary.
He also urged the public to clear drainage channels, avoid crossing flooded roads and follow official flood updates from NIHSA.
Mohammed called on emergency management agencies to pre-position relief materials in vulnerable communities.
He said community-based early warning systems should also be activated to reduce the impact of possible flooding.
The agency urged residents and local authorities to take the advisory seriously as the rainy season continues across Nigeria.
