The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has warned that 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 33 states and the FCT fall within the high flood-risk areas in 2025.

The warning was issued during the official presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, in Abuja.

According to the forecast, an additional 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs across 31 states and the FCT are expected to experience moderate flood risk this year.

States identified in the high-risk category include: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, the FCT, Gombe and Imo.

Others are; Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.

Utsev noted that floods are among the most devastating natural disasters affecting lives, property, agriculture, and infrastructure.

He said the 2025 forecast is aimed at raising awareness and encouraging preparedness among citizens, particularly in vulnerable communities.

He said this year’s theme on community preparedness and adaptation is timely, given the recurring floods and their impact on livelihoods and infrastructure.

The minister explained that the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook has been segmented into three parts to enhance flood preparedness.

These include a general flood forecast, a communication strategy for effective warning dissemination, and a mitigation plan to reduce exposure and vulnerability.

“According to the forecast, 657 communities in 52 LGAs are expected to experience high flood risk between April and June.

“544 communities in 142 LGAs between July and September; and 484 communities in 56 LGAs from October to November.

“Moderate flood risk is projected for 445 communities in 116 LGAs from April to June, 1,458 communities in 271 LGAs from July to September, and 1,473 communities in 171 LGAs between October and November,” he added.

He said flash and urban flooding are expected in major cities, including Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, and Makurdi, largely due to poor drainage and weak infrastructure.

According to him, coastal states such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo may also experience flooding caused by rising sea levels and tidal surges, posing a threat to livelihoods and river-based activities.

Utsev announced initiatives such as a National Flood Insurance Programme, to be piloted in Kogi and Jigawa states, and the Niger Flood Project to boost river navigation, flood control, and climate resilience.

He highlighted plans to launch an Integrated Climate Resilience Project and the forthcoming Annual Drought Outlook.

Utsev urged stakeholders to support government efforts in building flood-resilient communities and affirming the Federal Government’s commitment to proactive flood management.

Earlier, the NIHSA Director-General Umar Mohammed emphasised the agency’s commitment to using advanced technologies and fostering inter-agency collaboration to deliver accurate and timely flood forecasts.

Mohammed explained that this year’s forecast adopts a more community-focused approach, extending beyond local government areas to identify specific at-risk communities.

“Our aim is to equip decision-makers with actionable information to protect lives, livelihoods, and property,” he stated.

He added that the outlook identifies flood-prone states, local government areas, and communities, while also assessing impacts on sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, transport, and water quality.

According to Mohammed, the goal is to strengthen community resilience and support proactive flood management strategies across the country.

Key highlights of the event included the formal presentation of the NIHSA Flood and Drought Dashboard and the unveiling of the National Flood Insurance Programme.

Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the World Meteorological Agency, the National Water Resources Institute Kaduna, and others.

NAN

The Presidency has dismissed allegations of lopsided appointments under President Bola Tinubu, describing the claim by Senator Ali Ndume as hypocritical and misleading.

In a reaction posted on Tuesday via his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the Borno South senator is “allergic to facts and addicted to theatrics.”

Onanuga’s response comes after Ndume accused President Tinubu of favouring certain regions in his recent appointments, sparking debates across political circles.

“Senator Ali Ndume’s latest outburst on TV about so-called ‘lopsided appointments’ by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reeks of hypocrisy and selective perception.

“While the Borno senator grandstanded as a moral authority on equity, he forgot to tell his interviewer that two of his kinsmen featured in recent NNPC Limited top appointments”, Onanuga wrote.

He pointed out that the Chairman of NNPC Limited, who was appointed by President Tinubu, hails from Ndume’s own senatorial district in Borno State.

“If Tinubu and his surrogates’ choices are so ‘tribal,’ how did two of Ndume’s kinsmen clinch NNPC’s top roles?” he queried.

The presidential aide accused Ndume of repeatedly engaging in populist rhetoric without regard for verifiable facts.

“His habit of firing half-baked criticisms – only to be contradicted by facts – proves he’s more interested in headline-chasing, rabble rousing, and stoking divisive narratives than offering constructive criticism,” he added.

Onanuga reaffirmed the President’s commitment to inclusive governance, saying Tinubu’s appointments are based on merit, integrity, and national spread.

“President Tinubu is deeply committed to fostering a government that embraces all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic or regional affiliations,” he said.

He urged the senator to “elevate public discourse and avoid misinformation and baseless criticism,” warning that such behaviour was “a disservice to the nation and the behaviour least expected from a Nigerian Senator.”

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Police Affairs has formally received the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) platform and infrastructure from the European Union/INTERPOL towards enhancing security in the nation and West Africa region, according to a statement by the Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations Unit, Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).

The official handing over ceremony of WAPIS Programme was done by the Interpol Executive Director Police Services, and received by the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, at the ECOWAS Secretariat Asokoro, Abuja.

The Minister stated that today’s ceremony symbolizes Nigeria’s strong commitment and active role in regional security cooperation through the WAPIS Programme towards sustaining the WAPIS initiative, ensuring enhanced security for Nigeria and the West African Region.

Gaidam recalled that since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between INTERPOL and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 16th of April 2019, Nigeria has greatly benefited from the implementation of the WAPIS Programme.
This collaboration has notably resulted in the renovation and operationalization of the Data Collection and Registration Centre (DACORE), inaugurated on the 26th of May 2021, strategically situated at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja. The Minister stressed.

“At the inception stage, we received an initial donation workstation, which significantly improved the technological capabilities. Recognizing the importance of interagency collaboration, we brought onboard key national law enforcement agencies, namely the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Immigration Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Correctional Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigeria Customs Service, and the Nigeria Police Force as the coordinating agency,” he said.

He added that, “as the Chairman of the WAPIS National Committee (WANACO), it has been my responsibility and privilege to oversee the effective implementation of this Programme and we have worked relentlessly to foster improved coordination and cooperation among law enforcement agencies, ensuring effective data-driven law enforcement operations across Nigeria.”

Gaidam further revealed that the Ministry of Police Affairs, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, has proactively submitted a comprehensive budget proposal to President Bola Tinubu, and the proposal is currently receiving commendable attention from the Office of the President.

The Minister reinforced the commitment to ensure seamless and effective operation by personally overseeing the provision of stable and reliable internet connectivity at the DACORE, facilitating continuous and effective communication with remote locations.

He added that the Ministry recently organized a three-day WAPIS Workshop themed “Interagency Collaboration on Information Sharing among Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria.”

This vital workshop brought together key stakeholders from various law enforcement agencies, resulting in strategic deliberations that were encapsulated in a communiqué presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

In his remarks, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Gautier Mignot pointed out that the Union played a pivotal role in modernizing the effectiveness of the security forces in the region adding that through the expenditure of 380 million Euros they were able to create centralized and secured system for police information at national and regional levels.

Earlier, the INTERPOL Executive Director, Police Services, Cyril Gout, appreciated the commitment of the ECOWAS and European Union for their commitment and resilience on the WAPIS project implementation.

He said that integration of several police Information systems represent a major stride that enable them to focus on transnational crimes, human trafficking and information sharing adding that there is the need for more investment on training and capacity building to maintain the effectiveness of the project.