The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), has issued a warning to Nigerians living along riverbanks in the River Benue Basin to relocate to safer areas immediately. In a statement released on Thursday, NIHSA Director General Umar Mohammed cautioned that rising water levels on the River Benue, due to increased rainfall, have reached dangerous flooding levels.

Residents near the River Niger were also advised to evacuate as the management of the Kainji and Jebba Dams are working to manage the floodwaters. Mohammed urged Nigerians to cooperate with emergency management agencies and contribute to building resilience against future floods to minimize their impact.

This warning follows the recent release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, which caused severe flooding, claiming over 30 lives and destroying thousands of homes in Maiduguri, Borno State.

In 2022, flooding devastated many Nigerian states, leading to 665 deaths, displacing over 2.4 million people, and affecting more than 4.4 million. In 2023, 159,157 people were impacted by floods, 28 lives were lost, and 48,168 were displaced, with water released from the Lagdo Dam contributing to some of the incidents.

As of 2024, flooding has affected 1,048,312 individuals, displaced 625,239, and claimed 259 lives between April and September, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The government continues to urge Nigerians to heed these warnings to prevent further loss of life and property.