The governments of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states have activated emergency response measures and evacuation plans following fresh flood warnings issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

According to TheCable, citing the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the precautionary measures come after NiMet and NIHSA warned that 17 states could experience significant flooding during the ongoing rainy season.

In Borno, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said a flood preparedness committee involving NiMet, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society had been established to coordinate disaster response.

Yagana Ali-Abadam, SEMA’s director of administration, said residents of flood-prone communities in Dikwa had already been relocated to safer areas, while relief materials were being distributed to victims of previous flooding in Kala Balge.

She added that drainage channels were being cleared and expanded in vulnerable parts of Maiduguri, including Ajilari Cross, Kopa and Bulumkutu-Dala, alongside ongoing public awareness campaigns through the media and community outreach.

In Yobe, the state emergency management agency said it had deployed real-time river monitoring systems and digital community reporting platforms in flood-prone locations. Safe evacuation centres have also been identified, while local government early warning committees have been activated and trained.

The state government has approved relief materials for 50,000 households, food supplies for 10,000 households, and earmarked 7,400 sandbags for embankment projects. Emergency response materials have also been pre-positioned in Damaturu, Potiskum and Geidam.

Officials identified 12 high-risk local government areas, including Damaturu, Geidam, Potiskum, Jakusko, Bade, Gulani and Machina, and urged residents to comply with evacuation directives when necessary.

In Adamawa, the State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) said flood response committees had been activated across all 21 local government areas.

Executive Secretary Celine Laori said the government had begun desilting major drainage channels in Yola North, Yola South and Jimeta, while identifying Fufore, Girei, Demsa, Numan and Lamurde among communities at high risk of flooding.

She said the agency was partnering with radio stations to broadcast flood awareness messages in Hausa, Fulfulde and other local languages, while town hall meetings were being held to sensitise residents.

Laori urged residents to avoid building on waterways, clear blocked drainages and relocate promptly whenever flood warnings are issued, stressing that early action remains critical to saving lives.