The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has raised alarms over the potential for severe flooding in 2025, urging governments and residents in flood-prone areas to prepare without delay.
According to forecasts from the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), 1,249 communities across 176 local government areas in 30 states, including 16 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are at significant risk of flooding this year.
In a statement by ACF National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the forum expressed deep concern over the likely humanitarian and economic impact of the predicted floods, emphasizing the need for urgent action.
The ACF highlighted the inadequacies in current public awareness campaigns, despite the rainy season already underway in parts of Nigeria.
The forum urged stronger coordination between federal, state, and local governments, and called for the pre-positioning of essential supplies in vulnerable areas.
It also stressed the importance of repairing critical infrastructure and enforcing urban planning laws to mitigate potential disasters, warning that incompetence and negligence must not be tolerated.
The ACF further advised citizens to adopt responsible environmental practices, such as maintaining clean drainage systems and avoiding waste disposal in waterways, to help prevent further damage.
