The Federal Government has issued a flood alert for 14 states, warning that 43 locations across the country may experience heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding between September 4 and September 8, 2025.

The warning was issued, yesterday, by the Federal Ministry of the Environment, National Flood Early Warning Centre, and signed by the Director of the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, Usman Abdullahi Bokani.

The alert is coming as the country is grappling with the dual challenge of climate change and inadequate drainage infrastructure, making many communities vulnerable during the rainy season.

The affected states and locations include Ebonyi State (Afikpo), Cross River State (Edor, Ikom, Itigidi, Akpap), Kano State (Gwarzo, Karaye), Zamfara State (Anka, Gummi, Kaura Namoda, Maradun, Shinkafi, Bukkuyum), Taraba State (Dampar, Duchi, Garkowa, Gassol, Gembu, Gun Gun Bodel, Kambari, Mayo Ranewo, Mutum Biyu, Bandawa, Ngaruwa), Abia State (Eziama, Umuahia), Yobe State (Geidam, Kanama, Potiskum) and Plateau State (Langtang, Shendam, Wase).

Others include Borno State (Ngala), Imo State (Okigwe, Otoko), Niger State (Sarki Pawa), Sokoto State (Sokoto, Wamakko, Isa, Shagari, Makira); Kaduna State (Kafanchan), and Akwa Ibom State (Oron).

RELATEDLY, Lagos State Government has warned of an imminent environmental and social crisis in the Lagos Lagoon, describing the situation as a looming collapse unless urgent steps are taken.

The state’s Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Alebiosu, issued the warning, yesterday, at a media briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, ahead of the state’s maiden waterfront summit scheduled for September 11 on Victoria Island.

The summit, themed “Pressure on the Lagoon: The Lagos Experience”, is expected to bring together over 500 global experts to address the growing threats to the Lagoon and propose sustainable solutions.

Alebiosu said coastal erosion had already destroyed some communities, including Idotun Village in Ibeju-Lekki, displacing residents and wiping out livelihoods.

He said that similar devastation was also being experienced in parts of Ghana, underscoring the regional and global nature of the crisis.

However, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, yesterday, signed the exchange notes on the financial support with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, in Abuja.

Bagudu described the intervention as timely, stressing that it would complement government’s drive to deliver relief materials and rebuild livelihoods in severely impacted communities.

“We firmly believe that today’s signing ceremony will open new avenues for collaboration, strengthening our strategic partnership for the mutual benefit of our peoples,” the minister said.

He gave the assurance that the grant would be managed transparently to ensure accountability, adding that the Federal Government had agreed on a joint monitoring and evaluation mechanism with the Chinese Embassy.

Speaking earlier, Dunhai expressed China’s solidarity with Nigeria, recalling that both countries recently suffered devastating flooding. (The Guardian)