NEMA: floods kill 245, displace 214,997 across 28 states
- NEMA's flood dashboard shows 673,350 people affected in 134 local government areas across 28 states as of 20 October.
- The agency says 245 lives have been lost and 214,997 people displaced this year.
- NEMA is urging agencies to prepare now for the expected 2026/2027 El Niño and to guard against health risks in camps.
Flooding across Nigeria has killed 245 people and forced 214,997 others from their homes this year, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The agency's flood dashboard, cited at a stakeholders' meeting in Abuja, showed that 673,350 people had been affected in 134 local government areas across 28 states as of 20 October 2026.
The figures were presented by NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar, who was represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Godwin Topikor, at the National Emergency Coordination Forum.
For families in the affected areas, the numbers mean lost homes, farmlands and means of livelihood, with many now depending on relief items and relatives for shelter and food.
Health fears in camps
Umar warned that displacement, poor sanitation and limited access to essential services could heighten health vulnerabilities in flood-affected communities.
She called for heightened surveillance, timely information sharing and closer coordination between emergency management and health institutions.
The forum brought together ministries, security agencies, humanitarian groups and development partners, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
Participants reviewed the current flood situation, cholera updates and the expected El Niño weather pattern for 2026/2027, along with its possible effects on rivers and water levels.
What happens next
Umar asked relevant institutions to harmonise climate forecasts and turn early warnings into practical action before the El Niño period, so that lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure are protected.
She also urged agencies to avoid duplicating efforts and to give priority to women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities in relief planning.
The meeting looked at preparedness across food security, health, education, water and sanitation, nutrition, shelter, logistics and security.
NEMA's Deputy Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Tony Ephraim, urged participants to identify gaps and come up with recommendations to strengthen the country's disaster response.
