The National Emergency Management Agency has said 673,350 people were affected by flooding across 134 local government areas in 28 states as of October 20, 2026, with 245 deaths recorded.
The agency also disclosed that 214,997 people had been displaced, calling for stronger inter-agency coordination and improved preparedness ahead of the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño phenomenon.
According to a statement by NEMA on Friday, the figures were presented by the Director-General of the agency, Zubaida Umar, at the National Emergency Coordination Forum held at Ajuji Greenwich Hotel, Abuja.
“Speaking at the forum, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, disclosed that the Agency’s flood dashboard had recorded 673,350 persons affected across 134 Local Government Areas in 28 states as of 20 October 2026. Of this number, 214,997 persons had been displaced, while 245 lives had been lost”, the statement said.
Umar, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Godwin Topikor, said the magnitude of the flooding underscored the need to review ongoing interventions, identify response gaps and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders.
The statement said the meeting brought together key stakeholders from ministries, departments and agencies, security institutions, humanitarian organisations and development partners to assess emerging disaster risks and strengthen coordinated preparedness and response.
Umar emphasised the importance of “heightened surveillance, timely information sharing and coordinated preparedness against emerging public health threats,” particularly in disaster-affected communities.
She noted that displacement, poor sanitation and limited access to essential services could heighten health vulnerabilities among affected populations.
On the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño phenomenon, the director-general stressed the need for relevant institutions to “harmonise climate forecasts, assess potential risks and translate early warning information into practical anticipatory actions” to minimise possible impacts on lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.
She reiterated that “effective disaster management required a proactive, multisectoral approach anchored on early warning, preparedness, risk reduction, timely response and sustainable recovery,” according to the statement.
The NEMA boss urged participating institutions to “deepen operational collaboration, eliminate duplication of efforts and prioritise the protection of vulnerable populations,” particularly women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
The forum featured technical presentations and discussions on the current flood situation, cholera updates, the anticipated El Niño phenomenon and its hydrological implications, as well as global and regional climate outlooks.
Participants also reviewed sectoral preparedness and response priorities covering food security, health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, protection, emergency shelter, logistics, security and information management.
In his welcome address, the Deputy Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Tony Ephraim, underscored the importance of effective coordination and collaboration among emergency management stakeholders.
He encouraged participants to make meaningful contributions towards “identifying operational gaps, improving information sharing and developing actionable recommendations to strengthen national disaster preparedness and response.”
The statement said the forum provided a platform for stakeholders to “review existing response mechanisms, harmonise sectoral priorities and strengthen collective readiness to address ongoing emergencies and anticipated disaster risks across the country.”