The National Emergency Management Agency has issued an urgent appeal to Nigerians in flood-prone communities to take immediate precautionary measures — including evacuation where necessary — as persistent rainfall intensifies across the country and 14 states face medium flood risk between July 14 and July 20.
Nigeria’s flood season is peaking — and the country’s emergency agency wants residents to act now, not later.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Saturday appealed to Nigerians living in flood-vulnerable areas to take immediate precautionary action, with Director-General Zubaida Umar urging communities to activate local flood mitigation measures without delay, according to a statement issued by the agency’s Press Unit.
“Preparedness and early evacuation remain the most effective ways of preventing avoidable loss of lives and reducing the impact of floods during the peak of the rainy season,” Umar said.
The NEMA chief warned residents specifically against driving or walking through flooded roads — an action she described as potentially fatal — and urged members of the public to keep drainage channels clear of refuse to allow water to flow freely during heavy downpours. Communities were also urged to report emergencies promptly to enable swift rescue response.
To reinforce nationwide preparedness, Umar said all Zonal Directors and Heads of Operations Offices had been directed to intensify public sensitisation campaigns on flood safety, work more closely with State Emergency Management Agencies, Local Emergency Management Committees, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders, and ensure prompt coordination of search and rescue operations when emergencies arise.
The advisory follows a flood risk forecast by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, which placed 14 states on medium flood alert between July 14 and July 20: Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger and Plateau.
PM News reports that the Federal Ministry of Environment had also previously alerted residents in 26 states and the FCT to flooding risks from heavy rainfall, urging those in vulnerable locations to remain vigilant and relocate where necessary.
NEMA said it would continue monitoring the flood situation nationwide and coordinate timely emergency response and humanitarian assistance to affected communities.
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