Floods may worsen by September as NiHSA warns of growing health risks
As heavy rains continue across Nigeria, experts warn the worst flooding may still lie ahead, with growing risks to water safety.
Flooding across several parts of Nigeria may intensify in the coming weeks, with the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency warning that the country is yet to reach the peak of the rainy season and that contaminated drinking water could trigger additional public health risks.
The warning comes as communities across states including Niger, Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Lagos and parts of the North-East continue to grapple with flash floods that have displaced residents, destroyed homes, submerged roads and damaged farmlands following weeks of heavy rainfall.
Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Umar Mohammed, said the flooding currently being experienced aligns with the agency’s earlier forecasts, stressing that conditions are expected to become more severe between August and September if preventive measures are not urgently implemented.
Speaking through the agency’s Head of Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing, Emmanuel Tuna, Mohammed said the floods did not come as a surprise, as NiHSA had issued early flood outlooks months before the onset of the rainy season.
“This is something we foresaw; we saw it coming,” he said.
“As we speak now, with the flooding happening, if nothing is done, this is just the start of the rainy season, sometime around July to September, and it could be worse than what is even happening right now.
“And we are expecting it to be worse around August and September, particularly August and September.”
While the visible destruction caused by floodwaters often attracts the most attention, Mohammed warned that the impact on public health could become equally serious as floodwaters contaminate rivers, streams, wells and boreholes that many communities depend on for drinking water.
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He explained that floodwater frequently carries sewage, waste, chemicals and other harmful contaminants into water sources, increasing the risk of outbreaks of waterborne diseases if affected communities continue using untreated water.
The warning comes at a time when health experts have repeatedly cautioned that flooding often creates favourable conditions for diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhoea and hepatitis A, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water.
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, alongside NiHSA and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, has consistently advised state governments and residents in flood-prone communities to clear drainage channels, avoid building on waterways and pay close attention to official flood advisories throughout the rainy season.
NiHSA also urged residents living in high-risk areas to remain vigilant and cooperate with emergency agencies whenever evacuation becomes necessary, noting that early action remains the most effective way to reduce loss of lives and property.
Nigeria experiences seasonal flooding almost every year, but recent years have seen increasingly destructive events linked to heavier rainfall, poor drainage infrastructure, blocked waterways and rapid urban development. The devastating floods of 2022, regarded as some of the worst in decades, affected all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, displaced more than 1.4 million people and claimed hundreds of lives, according to official government and humanitarian reports.
With several weeks of rainfall still expected before the season reaches its peak, authorities say preparedness, early warnings and improved drainage management will play a critical role in limiting the impact of floods on communities across the country.
