The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a fresh flood alert for July 2025, warning that 20 states, including Sokoto, Lagos, Edo, and Benue, face high risks of flash floods as heavy rainfall intensifies nationwide.
In its latest statement, NiMet highlighted Sokoto, Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom among states likely to experience severe flooding in the weeks ahead.
Residents have been urged to relocate from high-risk areas if possible, clear blocked drainage channels, prepare emergency kits, switch off gas and electricity during floods, and stay informed about community response plans.
This comes as Ondo State residents reel from the impact of recent floods that swept through communities in Owo, Okitipupa, Ilaje, and Ese Odo local government areas after three days of relentless rainfall. Property worth millions of naira has been lost, with houses submerged and bridges washed away in Uso, Ayeka, Ikoya, Igbodigo, Igodan, and Igbotako.
In Okitipupa, a victim, Joshua Jemiloni, explained how erosion and an overflowing stream led to the disaster, which damaged at least 10 buildings. Community leaders like Lawrence Awanebi in Igbodigo are now calling for urgent government support for the homeless.
Chairman of Owo Local Government, Tope Omolayo, has appealed to both federal and state governments to intervene immediately. Meanwhile, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa assured residents that dredging waterways and enforcing environmental laws remain priorities to mitigate future flooding.
However, according to a 9am News report, frustration is mounting over the management of Nigeria’s ecological funds, with critics questioning why over N620 billion allocated since 2012 has not translated into stronger flood resilience.
The 9am News revealed that the 36 states collectively received about N622.15bn from the Federation Account’s Ecological Fund between 2012 and February 2025. Despite this, devastating floods have become an annual nightmare, with ecological fund spending often shrouded in secrecy and accusations of mismanagement rife.
From 2017 to 2022 alone, about N300bn was distributed. The most recent allocation in January 2025 saw Kano, Lagos, Borno, and Niger among the highest recipients yet states like Niger are still grappling with deadly floods, with Mokwa town experiencing its worst flooding in 60 years.
A June 2025 SBM Intelligence report found that since July 2024, floods have inundated 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states, affecting an estimated 1.2 million people and destroying about 180,000 hectares of farmland worsening food insecurity and pushing inflation higher.
Experts say the situation underscores an urgent need for greater transparency, regular audits, and stricter oversight of how ecological funds are used. The President of the Africa Environmental Health Organisation, Afolabi Abiodun, noted that despite repeated claims of effort by authorities, the impact on communities remains negligible.
As Nigeria braces for more heavy rains, many believe only genuine accountability, not just yearly flood alerts, can stop the cycle of destruction and rebuild trust that ecological funds actually serve their purpose.
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