The Federal Government has released the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook, predicting high flood risks for 14,118 communities across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, officially released the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) on Wednesday, warning that 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory face significant flood risks. Speaking at the public presentation in Abuja, Minister Engr. Joseph Utsev revealed that 14,118 communities across 266 Local Government Areas have been identified as high-risk zones. The event, themed ‘Smart Water Resources Management: Moving from Oil to Water-Based Economy,’ was attended by high-ranking officials, including President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, alongside state governors and service chiefs.
To mitigate the projected impact, the Ministry is modernizing national hydrological monitoring networks and strengthening its partnership with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). Minister Utsev emphasized that the integration of weather and water data is essential for protecting infrastructure and supporting critical sectors like agriculture and urban planning. He noted that while the AFO provides the necessary scientific data, the ultimate success of the initiative depends on translating these forecasts into concrete preventative actions at the community and local government levels to minimize economic losses.
Highlighting the gravity of the forecast, the Minister described the document as a vital instrument for disaster preparedness and a mandatory call to action for all stakeholders. He underscored the human and economic stakes involved in the upcoming season, stating: “The 2026 flood forecast presented today provides us with the following general highlights: High Flood Risk: 14,118 communities in 266 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 33 States and FCT fall within the high flood risk areas. The States are: Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the FCT.”
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