ABUJA, Nigeria (BN24) — Torrential rains and flash floods sweeping across Nigeria have killed at least 238 people and displaced more than 135,000 residents in what authorities describe as one of the worst seasonal disasters in recent years.
The data, released by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Saturday through its 2025 Flood Dashboard, paints a stark picture of widespread humanitarian need and escalating vulnerability as the country nears the end of its rainy season.
So far, the floods have affected a staggering 409,714 people nationwide. At least 826 individuals have suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe, while 115 people remain unaccounted for, their fates unknown amid submerged settlements and crumbling infrastructure.
Flood-related fatalities have been reported in multiple regions, with 27 states and 117 local government areas recording significant destruction. While no single region has been spared, the brunt of the disaster has fallen on communities in Adamawa, Lagos, and Akwa Ibom states, the three most heavily impacted zones.
In Adamawa, 60,608 people were affected by floodwaters, many forced from their homes into makeshift shelters or exposed to the elements. In Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub and most densely populated state, 57,951 residents were displaced as drainage systems were overwhelmed, leading to rapid urban flooding. Akwa Ibom, a coastal state in the Niger Delta, reported 46,233 people impacted.
Other heavily affected states include:
- Taraba: 28,107 affected
- Imo: 26,041
- Kaduna: 24,240
- Rivers: 22,345
In addition, Delta, Abia, Edo, Niger, Borno, Yobe, Bayelsa, Cross River, Sokoto, Kogi, and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) also reported significant levels of displacement, loss of property, and damage to farmland.
According to NEMA, 47,708 homes have been either destroyed or severely damaged, displacing tens of thousands of families. Compounding the crisis, about 62,653 hectares of cultivated farmland have been submerged, raising fears of increased food insecurity and economic instability, particularly in rural regions dependent on seasonal agriculture.
The loss of crops during the critical harvest period could lead to supply chain disruptions and price spikes in staple commodities, exacerbating existing inflationary pressures already affecting the nation’s food sector.
The demographic breakdown of those affected reveals the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Children represent the largest group, with 188,118 affected by the floods. Women follow with 125,307, and men account for 77,423.
Elderly citizens and individuals with disabilities also form a significant portion of the affected. NEMA’s report notes that 18,866 elderly persons and 2,418 persons living with disabilities are among those displaced or in urgent need of assistance.
In its situation analysis, NEMA identified the most urgent humanitarian needs: food, shelter, access to clean water and sanitation, health services, and livelihood support. Secondary priorities include education, nutrition, protection for vulnerable groups, and improved security at crowded displacement sites.
However, the agency warned that a range of challenges has significantly hampered efforts to deliver aid and conduct search-and-rescue missions. Chief among them is inaccessibility — with 63 percent of flood-affected areas cut off by washed-out roads, collapsed bridges, or impassable terrain. In some regions, responders must use canoes and boats to reach isolated communities.
Security concerns (18 percent) — including theft of relief materials and unrest in displacement camps have further complicated response efforts. In comparison, a 10 percent shortage in critical resources, including fuel, medical supplies, and personnel, has slowed the pace of humanitarian interventions.
NEMA continues to monitor the evolving situation as floodwaters in some regions begin to recede. However, officials caution that more rainfall could still occur in the coming weeks, particularly in southern states, potentially worsening the crisis.
The agency has urged state governments, local emergency committees, and international humanitarian partners to coordinate efforts to ensure aid reaches those in need swiftly.
With thousands of families still living in schools, mosques, churches, and temporary shelters, the scale of rebuilding will be enormous — both in physical infrastructure and livelihoods lost.
The 2025 flood season, though not yet over, is already being compared to past catastrophic years such as 2012 and 2022, when flooding displaced millions and triggered nationwide emergencies.
For now, the priority remains saving lives, preventing disease outbreaks, and restoring dignity to displaced citizens struggling to survive in the aftermath.
