Declare Emergency on Flooding; YEAC tells RVSG
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) has raised alarm over the growing impact of flooding in Nigeria, warning that environmental neglect has escalated into a national security threat.
In a press release issued on Tuesday April 28, the organization cited the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), which identified 14,118 communities across 33 states as being at high risk of flooding this year.
YEAC-NIGERIA noted that in the Niger Delta, particularly Rivers State, the looming floods pose not only environmental concerns but also existential threats to affected communities.
The group outlined several indicators showing how flooding has evolved beyond a seasonal challenge into a security issue. It pointed to the loss of lives and livelihoods, recalling that more than 600 Nigerians died and about 1.4 million were displaced during the 2022 floods, with similar patterns expected in 2026 if urgent measures are not taken.
The association also linked flooding to rising insecurity, explaining that displacement of farmers and fishermen often pushes vulnerable youths into criminal activities such as oil theft, artisanal refining, and cultism.
According to the group, environmental degradation combined with economic hardship continues to fuel pipeline vandalism and related crimes.
The statement further highlighted threats to critical national infrastructure, noting that previous floods disrupted the East-West Road and rail transport systems, while also endangering oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta, developments that could negatively impact Nigeria’s economy.
Public health risks were also emphasised, as floodwaters contribute to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria, while also crippling healthcare delivery when facilities are inundated.
YEAC warned that repeated flooding and inadequate government response could erode public trust, potentially leading to social unrest.
“The reality is that environmental neglect is already a national security threat in Nigeria, especially in flood-prone regions,” the statement said, stressing that recurring floods have become predictable events rather than anomalies.
Speaking on a radio programme in Port Harcourt, the Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Fyneface Dumnamene called on all levels of government to take urgent action.
He urged authorities to declare a state of emergency on flooding, convene a stakeholders’ conference in Rivers State, and implement community-based early warning systems using NiHSA data.
Fyneface also advocated for the establishment of a Rivers State Emergency Management Agency (RISEMA), backed by dedicated funding, and recommended the deployment of sanitation marshals to ensure regular drainage maintenance.
YEAC emphasised that proactive measures must be taken ahead of the peak flooding season expected from July, warning that failure to act could worsen both humanitarian and security challenges across the country.
