Nigeria flooding affects over 673,000 people and kills 245

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reports that flooding has affected 673,350 people across 134 local government areas in 28 Nigerian states as of October 20, 2026. The disaster has resulted in 245 deaths and the displacement of 214,997 individuals.

According to NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar, children make up 38 percent of those affected, while women account for 31 percent. The North-West geopolitical zone has seen 57 percent of the affected population, and Akwa Ibom state alone accounts for 29 percent of the total affected.

Authorities expressed concern regarding the link between flooding and public health threats, such as cholera, due to contaminated water and poor sanitation in displaced communities. NEMA is working to strengthen inter-agency coordination and translate early warning forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency into practical anticipatory actions.