About 226 local government areas in 33 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory fall within the high flood risk areas identified in 2026, the Federal Government has revealed.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, stated this on Wednesday during the public presentation of the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency at the State Banquet Hall of the Aso Villa, Abuja.

“Fourteen thousand, one hundred and eighteen communities in 266 local government areas in 33 States and the FCT fall within the high flood risk areas.

“The states are: Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT,” Utshev, a professor, said.

According to the outlook, 405 LGAs in 35 states of the federation fall within the moderate flood risk area, except Ekiti State.

Meanwhile, incidents of minimal flood are expected in 923 communities in 77 LGAs in 24 states.

“Low Flood Risk: Incidences of minimal flood are expected in 923 communities in 77 LGAs in 24 States. The states are Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Sokoto, Taraba, and Zamfara,” the minister said.

He further disclosed that this year’s annual flood outlook introduced a community-based flood forecasting, which means forecasts are now tailored to specific communities for quick intervention.

Emergency Response Systems

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening emergency response systems and promoting sustainable development across the country.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said that the government had carefully assessed existing challenges and recognised the critical role of rescue teams in mitigating emergencies.

He noted that efforts were underway to enhance the capacity and strategic direction of relevant ministries to ensure more effective and timely responses.

The President also stressed the need to build a sustainable future through improved coordination, planning, and service delivery.

According to him, effective communication remains a key tool in fostering collaboration, increasing public awareness, and ensuring prompt response to emerging issues.

Tinubu said that with improved communication and strategic planning, the government was confident of overcoming current challenges and delivering better outcomes for citizens.

The event with the theme, ‘Smart Water Resources Management: Moving From Oil To A Water-Based Economy’ had in attendance minister and other stakeholders.

The camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), are in disarray as the troops of the Nigerian Army (NA) under Operation EASTERN SANITY have intensified offensive operations across the South-East, decisively overrunning IPOB/ESN strongholds and pushing the criminal elements into disarray.

Relentless pressure mounted by the troops, backed by superior firepower, intelligence and joint-force synergy, has continued to expose the group’s weakening structure and inability to withstand sustained military action.

On 14 April 2026, joint troops of Sector 1, supported by the Air Component of Operation UDO KA, launched a precision strike and clearance operation in Ajali Forest, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State. The offensive forced IPOB/ESN elements into a chaotic retreat, abandoning critical assets, including an anti-tank Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The failed attempt to deploy the device underscores the group’s desperation and declining operational competence. The IED was safely secured by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Security team, averting potential harm to troops and civilians.

Troops have since established firm dominance over the general area, sustaining aggressive clearance operations and systematically dismantling all terrorist infrastructure. The deliberate destruction of hideouts using chainsaws and bulldozers has stripped the criminals of cover, leaving them exposed, scattered and unable to regroup or mount any meaningful resistance.

In a related intelligence-driven operation on the same day, troops of 82 Division Garrison deployed at Adani in Uzo-Uwani LGA, acting on credible intelligence from the Department of State Services, tracked and intercepted ransom proceeds linked to a kidnapping syndicate. The swift raid led to the arrest of a notorious kidnap suspect, further exposing the group’s reliance on criminality to sustain its collapsing network. Exploitation of the area led to the recovery of a pump-action rifle and the sum of Two Million Naira (₦2,000,000), Cash believed to be ransom funds, from the suspect’s residence.

The suspect and recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities, for a through investigation to track other members of the criminal gang. The operation further degraded  the IPOB/ESN’s operational and financial capacity. These outcomes further demonstrate that IPOB/ESN elements are steadily losing ground, resources and cohesion under sustained military pressure.

The Nigerian Army remains unrelenting and fully committed to annihilating all criminal and insurgent elements, denying them any sanctuary. The NA further assures  law-abiding citizens of its unwavering resolve to protect lives and property and urges continued public support as operations intensify to restore enduring peace and stability across the South-East.

Bose, a deaf young lady, has been put in family way twice by unknown men. She gave birth to the first child six years ago and is currently heavily pregnant.

The expectant lady who resides at Abule Egba area of Lagos State is expected to put to bed before the end of the month.

The situation surrounding her pregnancy saddens her mother. “She does not know the person that impregnated her,” the distraught mother, Mrs Oladipupo, told our correspondent.

“We have prodded her to reveal the person to no avail.

“The woman who taught her in school has even used sign language to ask her to reveal the person who impregnated her but there was no headway, and she is due to give birth this month,” the worried mother said.

The mother’s frustration is worsened by the fact that it is not her first pregnancy. “She was impregnated before now and she had a child from it,” she said.

She disclosed that the person who impregnated Bose the first time did not show up. “The second person  too remains invisible. I have no help or support from anywhere. I only depend on God to carry this huge responsibility.

“I am the only one seeing to her welfare. I am a mere sweeper.

“I am the one taking care of the first child now. It is not easy for me to take care of the child, not to talk of Bose in her present condition.

“I am struggling to feed and yet have this enormous burden thrusted on my shoulder.

“I enrolled the child she gave birth to in a public school. She is just six years old.”

The daughter’s first and second pregnancies remain a mystery to the distraught mother and continue to befuddle her because she does not know any man with her.

”I am not aware of any guy as her boyfriend. Even my neighbours said they don’t also know any boy in her life.

“We have laboured in vain to know the person who impregnated her.

“I have the conviction that when God helps me to settle the hospital bills and delivers her safely, He will smoke out the man who impregnated her.”

As tears continued to well up in her eyes, she recalled the exploitation of her daughter’s vulnerability by depraved randy men.

In spite of the distress and contempt that the daughter’s predicament has brought upon her in her neighbourhood, the thought of leaving Bose to face the challenges all alone has never crossed her mind.

“As a vulnerable child, it is not proper to just abandon her to her own fate,” she said in a tone laden with emotion.

Asked when she became aware of Bose’s new pregnancy, she said: “I did not know that she was pregnant until people drew my attention to it. I don’t know how to identify a pregnant woman.

“I thereafter took her to the hospital where it was confirmed that she is truly pregnant.”

As Bose’s due date is fast approaching, the hospital has handed over the bills she would need to settle before they would admit her to deliver the baby.

“The money we were asked to pay in the hospital is very much. I have not been able to pay a dime out of it.”

Asked how much the hospital asked them to pay, she said: “The whole money is about N70,000. She has done some medical tests but they recently asked her to do a PCV test to know her blood level.

“I am still worried about how to sort that out, and now they have asked us to pay about N70,000. I told them that I would bring her to do the test on Monday.

“She goes for ante natal. She even went this morning. She goes with about N2000 each time.

“I always manage to give her N1000 while she also adds N1000 to be able to go for a check-up.

“She is a mobile hairdresser. She supports what I bring with whatever little she gets from her work.”

She told our correspondent that she was yet to report Bose’s case to any government organisation. “But her former teacher is trying to help me to do that,” she said.