Humanitarian Crisis: Floods Claim 245 Lives, Displace Over 214,000 Across 28 States — NEMA

​ Nigeria — Over 245 people have died and 214,996 others have been displaced following widespread flooding that has impacted 673,350 individuals across 134 local government areas in 28 states, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed.
​The casualty figures and damage assessments were presented during a meeting of the National Emergency Coordination Forum (NECF) in Abuja. The high-level gathering was convened to evaluate ongoing emergency responses, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and prepare for the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño weather phenomenon.
​Escalating Humanitarian and Health Risks
​Delivering an address on behalf of NEMA Director-General Mrs. Zubaida Umar, the Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Godwin Topikor, warned that the magnitude of the 2026 flood disaster demands an immediate overhaul of relief operations and heightened vigilance against post-flood disease outbreaks.
​”Disaster-affected communities could face increased health vulnerabilities due to displacement, poor sanitation, and limited access to essential services,” Umar stated, stressing that effective disaster management must rely on early warning mechanisms, risk reduction, and rapid response to protect lives.
​She urged responding institutions to streamline operations, eliminate duplicated efforts, and prioritize vulnerable groups—particularly children, pregnant women, the elderly, and persons living with disabilities.
​Preparing for the 2026/2027 El Niño Threat
​The forum also focused heavily on translating climate forecasts into proactive measures ahead of the incoming 2026/2027 El Niño phenomenon, which poses severe risks to agricultural output, public health, and national infrastructure.
​NEMA’s Deputy Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Mr. Tony Ephraim, urged technical experts to identify critical operational gaps and deliver clear action plans to cushion the impact of upcoming hydrological shifts. Technical presentations during the session addressed food security, cholera prevention, emergency shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) standards.
​Multi-Agency Response
​The coordination meeting drew key representatives from the Federal Ministries of Health, Environment, Information, and Education, alongside the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
​Also participating were technical and humanitarian bodies, including the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Federal Fire Service, FRSC, Nigerian Red Cross Society, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).