By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned that 20 states, including Lagos, Benue, Edo, and Sokoto, are likely to face flash floods in July despite the disbursement of over N620 billion in ecological funds across the country since 2012.
In its latest alert issued on Monday, NiMet listed the states facing high to moderate flood risks.
These include Sokoto, Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom.
NiMet urged residents in these states to take precautions such as relocating from flood-prone areas, clearing drainages, and preparing emergency kits.
The agency also advised communities to switch off gas and electricity during floods and to intensify public awareness campaigns.
This comes as residents of several Ondo communities affected by last week’s heavy rains appealed to the state government for help.
The floods, which followed days of downpour, destroyed property worth millions of naira in areas like Owo, Okitipupa, Ilaje, and Ese-Odo.In Okitipupa, a resident, Mr. Joshua Jemiloni, explained that “the flooding was caused by erosion flowing down from Igodan,” noting that over 10 buildings were affected.
A community leader, Lawrence Awanebi, called for urgent government assistance for displaced persons. The chairman of Owo Local Government, Tope Omolayo, also appealed to both the federal and state governments to intervene.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa assured that the state has begun efforts to reduce flooding by dredging waterways and enforcing environmental laws.
“As a government, we shall continue with initiatives that will reduce the effects of floods and other natural disasters,” he said.Despite these efforts, critics have questioned how ecological funds have been used over the years.
Findings show that between 2012 and February 2025, Nigeria’s 36 states shared over N622 billion from the ecological fund.
However, many communities remain vulnerable.
Environmental experts have voiced concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in managing the funds.
Afolabi Abiodun, President of the Africa Environmental Health Organisation, said: “The government claims to be trying, but frankly, we don’t see the impact on society. These funds are supposed to build resilience… But what we see is merely a response to an ongoing crisis.”
Former President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Nathaniel Atebije, blamed repeated flooding on the government’s failure to honour an agreement with Cameroon to construct a buffer dam on the River Benue. “These medium-level dams are not done. And so, whenever water is released, the downstream people suffer greatly,” he said.
Hakeem Mukhtar, an environmental sustainability expert, pointed to poor urban planning, weak enforcement, and inadequate drainage as major factors.
He stressed that “the issue is not necessarily the lack of funds, but the lack of a structured, data-driven, and community-involved approach to flood mitigation.”
A climate researcher, Abeeb Ajagbe, also lamented the lack of monitoring and tracking mechanisms. “There have been several media reports highlighting corruption and mismanagement in how the ecological funds are being handled,” he said.
According to a June 2025 report by SBM Intelligence, floods have affected 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states since July 2024, impacting 1.2 million people and destroying 180,000 hectares of farmland.
Food insecurity has worsened, with inflation hitting over 35% in January 2024.
In May 2025 alone, flooding displaced 116,711 people across 12 states. Zamfara recorded the highest number, with over 58,000 affected.
Lagos, Kwara, Enugu, Bayelsa, and Sokoto also recorded significant figures.
As flood threats continue to rise, calls for urgent reform in the use of ecological funds grow louder.
Experts are demanding stricter oversight, independent audits, and more proactive, long-term strategies to tackle the worsening flood crisis across the country.