KEY POINTS

• FG will begin the flood awareness campaign in May 2025.

• 1,249 communities in 30 states are at risk of flooding.

• NEMA urges grassroots preparedness to mitigate flood impacts.

The Federal Government will start a nationwide flood awareness campaign in May 2025 to educate Nigerians.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about flood risks and safety measures across the country.

Mr. Kunle Awojemila, Deputy Director of the Department of Flood, Erosion Control, shared this information in an interview. He disclosed during the interview on Sunday regarding the campaign’s focus and objectives.

Around 1,249 communities in 176 Local Government Areas across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory will be affected. These areas are expected to face significant flooding from April to November this year.

Awojemila confirmed the campaign would start in the first week of May in the FCT. It will begin in Dutse and expand to areas like Lokogoma, Lugbe, and others.

According to Punch, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, presented the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook in Abuja, listing the states at risk of flooding: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, and Jigawa, among others.

Coastal and riverine states, including Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo, are particularly vulnerable to flooding due to rising sea levels and tidal surges.

Utsev also highlighted that climate change is increasing both the frequency and severity of flood events. He warned that these floods would negatively impact fishing activities, wildlife habitats, and river transport systems.

NEMA stresses the importance of grassroots preparedness

According to data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), flood disasters affected 217 local government areas across 34 states in 2024, displacing over 740,000 people.

NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, stressed the urgent need to enhance emergency preparedness at the grassroots level, especially with the upcoming rainy season.

The NEMA-GEPAD programme is designed to close the knowledge gap in communities vulnerable to flooding, focusing on direct community engagement and practical demonstrations to educate residents on safety measures and emergency responses.