15 Northern states on high alert as FG issues flood warning

Monday, August 11, 2025 - The Federal Government has issued flood alerts to 15 out of the 19 Northern states.

The Federal Ministry of Environment, which issued the warning on behalf of the federal government, warned that proactive measures must be taken in the communities that could be affected.
The Ministry of Environment circular said that following its forecasts of heavy rainfall in the states, there might be flooding between August 10 and August 14, 2025.

The ministry, which gave the warning through its National Flood Early Warning (FEW) Centre, in a circular signed by its Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, Malam Usman Abdullahi Bokani, yesterday in Abuja, also predicted that high-risk states included Adamawa, Bauchi, Nasarawa, as well as Kaduna, Katsina and Kebbi.

Other northern states on the red alert are Kano, Niger, Taraba, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Borno, and Kwara states.

The circular listed prominent towns and communities likely to face severe flooding to include Jimeta, Mubi, Keffi, Kafanchan, Birnin Kebbi, Minna, Gusau and Sokoto.

Among the listed states, Kebbi has the highest number of towns on the watchlist. About 10 prominent cities were listed on the watchlist, including Kamba, Kangiwa, Kalgo, Ribah, Sakaba, Saminaka, Gwandu, Jega, and Birnin Kebbi.

Bokani urged residents and state agencies to take urgent steps to safeguard lives and property. The ministry also appealed for quick feedback from stakeholders to respond quickly to flooding incidents.
It will be recalled that last month, the ministry issued early warning alerts of floods to 11 states and called for precautionary measures from state ministries of environment and stakeholders.