The Ogun State Government has urged residents living in riverbank and wetland areas of Akute, Alagbole, Isheri, Magboro,Makogi, Orimerunmu, Iro, Kajola and part of Abeokuta specifically Lafenwa, Enugada, Adedotun, Iberekodo, Akin-Olugbade, and Ago-Odo to prepare for overflow of Ogun River in the next two weeks, from the 20th of October and the 3rd of November.

This is part of its continued efforts at mitigating flooding in the state and it’s attendant effects on residents through its periodic Flood Alert, the third for the year.

In the latest flood alert released by the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, the overflow from Ogun River would rise as a result of controlled release of water from Oyan Dam due to heavy rainfall from up-north.

Oresanya said this would increase the volume of water reaching the dam from that part of the country which would be compounded by increase in tidal level.

The increase in the waterflow into the dam according to the Commissioner would inevitably forced the release of water from the dam that would affect the areas as he urged residents of the areas to exercise caution and avoid loss of lives and property within the period, the alert added.

The commissioner emphasised the need for residents of the areas to avoid the riverbank while those in the wetlands should move to higher grounds or elevate their stay for now as the overflow becomes inevitable.

According to him, as part of the mitigating plans, the Ogun State Government had continuously dredged and opened up more tributaries for Ogun River to ease the pressure of the overflow on residents in collaboration with the Ogun Osun River Basin Authority -owners of Oyan Dam who have continually ensured a controlled release of water from the dam throughout the year

The commissioner equally noted that at this period last year, the volume of water released from the dam was over 17,000 million litres per day as against over 12,000 million litres per day at this period despite the heavy rainfall signalling painstaking efforts at controlled release of water from the dam this year.

He therefore enjoined residents of the areas not to panic as the tide will go down in about ten days as the mitigating measures from the state government cannot stop the activities of nature as the impact of climate change is felt more by the state as one of the coastal states in Nigeria.

The Commissioner further revealed that the state is also a gateway or an outlet to empty the waterflow from Northern part of the country into the lagoon.

He therefore used the opportunity to once again called on fish farmers in the area to harvest their fish if they have not done so in order to avoid inevitable losses.

The National Flood Early Warning Centre under the Federal Ministry of Environment, has predicted that 16 states will experience heavy rainfall and flooding between October 4 and October 8,2025.

The prediction notice was contained and signed by the Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, Usman Abdullahi Bokani.

The ministry urged relevant stakeholders and state governments to take precautionary measures to mitigate the potential impacts of the predicted flooding.

According to the centre, the areas likely to be hit include: Delta State (Asaba), Yobe State (Damaturu), Sokoto State (Isa), Zamfara State (Anka, Bungudu, Gusau, Kaura-Namoda, Maradun, Shinkafi), Katsina State (Jibia), Oyo State (Kisi, Oyo), Kebbi State (Ribah, Sakaba, Yelwa), Kano State (Gwarzo, Sumaila, Karaye) and Niger State (Kontagora, Mashegu, Mokwa, New-Bussa, Rijau, Wushishi).

Others are Kwara State (Kosubosu), Benue State (Agaku, Buruku, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, Ugba), Borno State (Briyel), Bayelsa State (Brass, Ikpidiama, Odoni), Cross River State (Edor, Ikom), Rivers State (Itu, Ahoada), and Enugu State (Nsukka).

According to the National Emergency Management Agency, as of September 20, at least 232 persons had lost their lives, while 121,224 others had been displaced following floods that swept through parts of the country.

The 2025 flood dashboard shows that at least 339,658 people have been affected so far, with 681 sustaining various degrees of injuries.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast rainy and thundery weather across the country from Monday, 22 September to Wednesday, 24 September 24.

In its outlook released in Abuja, NiMet predicted isolated thunderstorms and light rains over parts of Adamawa and Taraba on Monday morning, extending later in the day to Kaduna, Gombe, Kebbi, Zamfara, Bauchi, Southern Borno and other northern states.

For the central region, a cloudy atmosphere with sunshine intervals is expected, with prospects of thunderstorms and light rains over the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau in the morning, intensifying into moderate rains in the afternoon and evening.

In the south, cloudy skies with sunshine intervals are anticipated, with isolated thunderstorms and light rains over Ebonyi, Abia, Imo, Lagos, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom in the morning. Thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over most parts of the region later in the day.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, NiMet forecasts similar patterns: cloudy conditions with intervals of sunshine across the north and central regions, alongside isolated thunderstorms and light-to-moderate rains in many states. The southern region will experience thunderstorms, moderate rains, and possible flash floods in Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Rivers.

NiMet advised states likely to experience flash floods to activate emergency response plans. It also urged the public to exercise caution while driving in the rain, avoid standing under tall trees, and disconnect electrical appliances during storms.

Farmers were cautioned against applying fertiliser or pesticides just before rainfall to avoid nutrient loss.

Airline operators were further advised to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for safe flight planning.