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The Federal Ministry of Environment has warned that several locations across 16 states may experience heavy rainfall likely to result in flooding between October 4 and October 8, 2025.

The flood alert obtained by our correspondent was issued by the National Flood Early Warning Centre on Saturday and signed by the Director of the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Usman Bokani.

The centre predicted that the flooding might affect 39 locations across the 16 states.

The predicted states and locations are Delta State (Asaba); Yobe State (Damaturu); Sokoto State (Isa); Zamfara State (Anka, Bungudu, Gusau, Kaura-Namoda, Maradun, Shinkafi); Katsina State (Jibia); Oyo State (Kisi, Oyo); Kebbi State (Ribah, Sakaba, Yelwa); Kano State (Gwarzo, Sumaila, Karaye); Niger State (Kontagora, Mashegu, Mokwa, New-Bussa, Rijau, Wushishi).

Others are Kwara State (Kosubosu); Benue State (Agaku, Buruku, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, Ugba); Borno State (Briyel); Bayelsa State (Brass, Ikpidiama, Odoni); Cross River State (Edor, Ikom); Rivers State (Itu, Ahoada); and Enugu State (Nsukka).

The ministry urged relevant stakeholders and state governments to take precautionary measures to mitigate the potential impacts of the predicted flooding.

As of September 20, no fewer than 232 persons had lost their lives, while 121,224 others had been displaced following floods that swept through parts of the country, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.

The 2025 flood dashboard shows that at least 339,658 people had been affected so far, with 681 sustaining various degrees of injuries. (The PUNCH, but headline rejigged)

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