FLOODING KILLS 245, DISPLACES OVER 214,000 NIGERIANS — NEMA

Floods Kill 245, Displace Nearly 215,000 Nigerians — NEMA

Flooding has claimed 245 lives and forced 214,997 people from their homes across Nigeria, the National Emergency Management Agency has disclosed.

According to the agency’s flood dashboard, 673,350 people were affected across 134 local government areas in 28 states as of October 20, 2026.

NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar presented the figures at the National Emergency Coordination Forum in Abuja. She was represented by the agency’s Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Godwin Topikor.

In a statement released on Friday, the agency said the scale of the disaster highlighted the need to review ongoing interventions, identify gaps and strengthen cooperation among organisations responding to affected communities.

The forum brought together representatives of ministries, departments and agencies, security institutions, humanitarian organisations and development partners to assess emerging risks and improve disaster preparedness.

Umar called for stronger coordination and better planning ahead of the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño phenomenon.

She also highlighted the health risks facing displaced families, noting that poor sanitation and limited access to essential services could leave affected communities more vulnerable to illness.

The NEMA chief stressed the importance of heightened surveillance, timely information sharing and coordinated preparations against emerging public health threats.

With hundreds of thousands affected, the agency’s appeal places renewed attention on both immediate assistance and measures to protect communities from further disasters.