The Nigeria flood crisis 2025 has left a trail of destruction across more than 20 states, damaging over 42,000 homes and submerging 48,000 hectares of farmland. From Lagos to Adamawa, emergency agencies are battling to rescue victims, provide shelter and prevent further devastation as torrential rains continue to overwhelm communities.

Emergency officials say Lagos is among the worst-hit states, with 57,951 people affected, 3,680 displaced and 3,244 houses damaged. Adamawa recorded 59 deaths, 438 injuries and more than 9,000 farmlands washed away. In Akwa Ibom, over 46,000 residents were impacted and 17,000 homes damaged.

Other severely affected areas include Imo (29,000 affected), Taraba (26,000 affected with five dead), Rivers (22,000 affected), Delta (14,000 affected), Abia (11,900 affected), and Edo (10,600 affected). Smaller but significant impacts were reported in Borno, Kaduna, Niger, Bayelsa, Cross River, Yobe, Sokoto, Gombe, Ondo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Anambra, Nasarawa, Kano and even the Federal Capital Territory.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warns that food, shelter, health care and sanitation remain urgent needs. Operations are hampered by funding shortages, inaccessible flooded roads, and security risks in some locations.

In Gombe, floods displaced nearly 1,000 households and claimed 15 lives this rainy season. Sokoto’s Rabah LGA lost more than 2,200 houses in September storms. Kaduna recorded the heaviest recent downpour, displacing 970 residents and destroying at least 270 homes.

Despite nationwide alerts, proactive measures spared states like Zamfara and Jigawa from major displacement. Officials in Nasarawa, Bauchi and Jigawa continue sensitisation campaigns and flood-mitigation projects, while governors promise long-term investments in drainage, river dredging and embankments to prevent future disasters.

NEMA urges residents in high-risk zones to relocate to safer ground and warns that heavy rains may persist through the season.