Nigeria is bracing for another wave of devastation as the Federal Government warned of heavy rainfall and possible flooding in 76 locations across 19 states from August 5 to 9, 2025. The alert, issued by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre, follows fresh deluges that have already displaced thousands and killed at least four in Ogun and Gombe states.
This year’s rains have intensified what has become a grim annual ritual of destruction and displacement. So far, flooding has claimed 191 lives, left 94 missing, and affected at least 134,435 people across 20 states, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Children and women remain the most vulnerable, comprising the bulk of the displaced.
In the latest projection, the Environment Ministry has flagged potential flashpoints across the country—from Lagos to Gombe, Ebonyi to Kano—where rains are expected to cause severe flooding. The ministry called on residents, local authorities, and emergency agencies to prepare for impact and initiate immediate preventive measures.
The crisis is unfolding even as large swathes of the country remain underwater. In Ogun, floodwaters on Tuesday submerged parts of Redemption City along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, stranding worshippers and residents. Estate 15 saw vehicles completely submerged, while RCCG officials were forced to deploy school buses and canoes to evacuate people.
Gombe wasn’t spared either. In six local government areas, windstorms and torrential rains left four dead and nearly 280 households affected. “Most of the deaths were caused by cracked walls collapsing,” said Haruna Abdullahi, executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency.
In Lagos, a night of relentless rainfall left parts of the city paralysed. Streets became rivers, homes were submerged, and businesses were crippled. From Ikorodu to Surulere and Lekki to Ajegunle, floodwaters surged through homes, schools, and markets. Viral videos captured harrowing scenes: children wading waist-deep in water, traders watching helplessly as floodwaters destroyed their wares, and barefoot residents pleading for government intervention.
“We’ve lost everything,” cried one woman in a viral clip from Oko Ope. “The water is everywhere. We can’t even go inside.”
The unfolding events follow a harrowing year. In May, floods in Mokwa, Niger State, killed over 200 people, making it the deadliest disaster so far in 2025. Earlier in April, 13 lives were lost in Kwara and Mokwa, with 30 communities affected after floodwaters from the Jebba Dam swept through the region. In Rivers State, landslides triggered by intense rainfall killed at least 25 people in Okrika.
According to NEMA’s latest dashboard, more than 48,000 people have been displaced this year, with 239 injuries recorded. Nearly 10,000 houses and 9,450 farmlands have been destroyed, fuelling fears of worsening food insecurity.
By demographic breakdown, 60,071 children, 41,539 women, 27,121 men, 5,704 elderly persons, and 1,874 people living with disabilities have been impacted.
The scale of the crisis prompted the National Economic Council to approve an emergency intervention fund. Each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory received N3bn for mitigation, alongside additional funds for federal ministries and NEMA, which received N10bn to coordinate nationwide response.
But critics say the money is coming too late for many. Last year, over 1,200 people died in floods, 1.2 million were displaced, and more than 116,000 houses were destroyed. The collapse of the Alau Dam in Borno alone killed 150 and displaced nearly half a million.
Despite repeated government assurances, experts argue that systemic issues—blocked drainage systems, unregulated urbanisation, poor infrastructure, and climate change—continue to drive Nigeria’s annual flood disasters.
In Delta State, communities in Sapele and Oko have already begun relocating after floodwaters submerged homes and destroyed property. Six internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have been activated. “We are tired of this yearly trauma,” said one resident. “We need drainage systems, not just empty promises.”
In Kebbi, Bauchi, and Plateau states, entire communities were flooded after heavy rains. In Diggi town, Kebbi, residents said the water “came like a monster,” displacing families in minutes. In Dass LGA, Bauchi, 13 homes were lost. Meanwhile, a rainstorm in Shimankar District of Plateau destroyed 50 homes and two schools.
Flooding has also displaced over 250 people in Tureta, Sokoto, following heavy downpours on July 23 and 25. The palace of a traditional ruler in Yabo and farmlands in Illela-Chofal were destroyed. Sokoto officials and NEMA have begun assessments to guide relief distribution.
Imo State has seen 27 villages submerged, while flash floods in Owerri West washed away homes and farmlands. In Rivers, floods in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor LGAs sparked fresh calls for a state of emergency.
“Flash floods are now a regular occurrence. What we need is emergency drainage clearing and immediate action,” said environmental activist Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene.
Some states have taken proactive steps. In Delta, Katsina, and Bayelsa, temporary shelters, public education campaigns, and emergency response plans have been initiated. In Yenagoa, officials credited recent desilting and drainage improvements for the city’s relative calm.
In Abuja, the Environment Ministry stressed the urgency of long-term solutions. “What is happening is not just a weather event,” a senior official said. “It is a systemic failure to plan for a future that is already here.”
With rains set to intensify in the coming weeks, the challenge for Nigeria is clear: adapt or endure another year of avoidable suffering.
