NEMA Releases New 2026 Flood Alert Amid Ongoing Rains

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) put out a fresh flood alert on September 6, 2026. The notice was published on NEMA’s official website and targets the 2026 flood season that has already affected several states. In the statement, NEMA highlighted that flooding is a recurring problem in Nigeria, especially during the long rainy season that stretches from April to October.

NEMA’s press office said the agency is shifting its focus from just reacting to disasters to preventing them. The new alert calls on federal, state and local disaster‑management authorities to work closely with communities that are most at risk. These include low‑lying villages along the Niger and Benue rivers, coastal towns in the South‑South, and urban neighbourhoods prone to flash floods.

Key points of the alert include:
• Updated flood‑risk maps for 15 high‑risk LGAs.
• Early‑warning signals to be issued via radio, TV, SMS and social media.
• A call for households to secure valuables on higher ground and to keep sandbags ready.
• Recommendations for schools and health centres to have evacuation plans in place.

The agency also reminded citizens that climate change is making rains more intense and unpredictable. “We cannot afford to wait for the water to rise before we act,” said a senior NEMA spokesperson. “Preparedness saves lives and reduces the cost of rescue operations.”

The alert follows a series of heavy downpours that have already displaced over 30,000 people this year. In Anambra, the Ogbunike River burst its banks, while parts of Kebbi have seen farmland washed away. NEMA has deployed rapid response teams to those hotspots, but the agency stresses that community‑level actions are the first line of defence.

Local leaders have been urged to hold town‑hall meetings to explain the warning and to distribute emergency kits where possible. The government has pledged ₦1.2 billion for flood mitigation projects, including the construction of drainage channels and reinforcement of riverbanks.

NEMA’s alert ends with a clear message: stay informed, stay prepared, and cooperate with authorities. The agency will update the public as the situation evolves, and it encourages anyone with reliable information on rising water levels to report immediately to the nearest NEMA office.

This alert underscores the importance of moving from reactive rescue to proactive mitigation, a shift that could protect millions of Nigerians from the growing threat of flood‑related disasters.