By Rosemary Ogbonna
Federal Ministry of Environment has warned that at least 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory may experience flooding between June 22 and July 5, 2026, following forecasts of heavy rainfall across the country.
In a flood prediction issued by the National Flood Early Warning Centre under the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, the ministry identified hundreds of communities as either critical-risk or high-risk flood zones.
According to the advisory dated June 22, 2026, “The following locations and their environs are likely to witness heavy rainfall that MAY lead to flooding within the period of prediction: 22nd June – 5th July, 2026.”
States under the critical-risk category include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Rivers.
High-risk areas were listed in parts of Adamawa, the FCT, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states.
Critical-risk communities include Aba, Arochukwu and Umuahia in Abia; Jimeta and Numan in Adamawa; Eket, Oron and Uyo in Akwa Ibom; Onitsha and Awka drainage corridors in Anambra; Yenagoa, Brass and Nembe in Bayelsa; Makurdi, Gboko and Katsina-Ala in Benue; Calabar and Creek Town in Cross River; Asaba, Warri and Sapele in Delta; Abakaliki, Afikpo and Onueke in Ebonyi.
Others are Benin City and Auchi in Edo; Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti; Enugu, Nsukka and Oji River in Enugu; Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe in Imo; Lokoja and Ajaokuta in Kogi; Ilorin, Jebba and Pategi in Kwara; Agege, Alimosho, Apapa, Badagry, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Lekki and Surulere in Lagos; Bida, Minna, Mokwa, Suleja and Kontagora in Niger; Abeokuta, Ota and Sagamu in Ogun; Akure, Owo and Okitipupa in Ondo; Oshogbo, Ile-Ife and Ilesa in Osun; Ibadan, Ogbomoso and Oyo in Oyo; and Port Harcourt, Bonny, Ahoada and Omoku in Rivers.
High-risk communities include Yola North, Yola South, Mubi and Gurin in Adamawa; Abuja Municipal, Gwagwalada, Kubwa, Nyanya and Wuse in the FCT; Birnin Kebbi and Argungu in Kebbi; Bako in Kogi; Keffi, Lafia, Karu and Toto in Nasarawa; Jos and Jos North in Plateau; and Jalingo, Wukari, Takum, Serti and Karim Lamido in Taraba.
Issuing a technical advisory, the ministry urged residents and authorities in vulnerable communities to take precautionary measures.
“Communities classified as Critical should maintain immediate flood watch, identify evacuation routes, protect vulnerable households and avoid settlement or trading activities within active floodplains, low-lying drain corridors and riverbank areas,” it stated.
“Communities classified as High should intensify drainage clearance, monitoring of culverts and stream channels, and community-level reporting of rainfall, ponding and river level changes,” the ministry added.
The warning comes as the rainy season intensifies, raising concerns over possible loss of lives, destruction of property and displacement in flood-prone communities if preventive measures are not implemented promptly.