Yenagoa – The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) has warned residents of Bayelsa and other Niger Delta states to brace for more severe flooding as the rainy season intensifies, saying the devastating floods witnessed recently in Lagos were anticipated and could worsen between August and September. �
Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiHSA, Umar Mohammed, said the agency had accurately forecast the flooding using scientific models before the recent torrential rains submerged large parts of Lagos.
According to him, the current flooding marks only the beginning of the season, warning that the peak rainfall period over the next 12 weeks could bring more destructive floods if preventive measures are not taken.
He also expressed concern that floodwaters could contaminate drinking water sources in affected communities, increasing public health risks.
Although his comments were prompted by the Lagos floods, the warning has significant implications for Bayelsa and the wider Niger Delta, where riverine and coastal communities are traditionally among the country’s most flood-prone areas. �
The Federal Government’s 2026 Annual Flood Outlook had earlier identified Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta among the states expected to face high flood risks this year due to heavy rainfall, rising river levels and tidal surges. �
NiHSA explained that coastal states such as Bayelsa are particularly vulnerable because flooding can occur simultaneously from overflowing rivers, intense rainfall and rising sea levels, a combination capable of causing widespread destruction.
The agency urged state governments, emergency management agencies and residents in vulnerable communities to clear drainage channels, monitor official flood advisories, identify safe evacuation routes and relocate where necessary before floodwaters rise.
Last week, torrential rainfall lasting several hours paralysed activities across Lagos, leaving roads submerged, homes flooded and commuters stranded, prompting renewed concerns over the country’s flood preparedness.
For Bayelsa and other Niger Delta states, the warning reinforces earlier forecasts that the peak flood season is yet to come and underscores the need for early action to minimise loss of lives, property and livelihoods.
Meanwhile our correspondent observed that the Bayelsa State Directorate of floods and Erosion control has started to open up drainage in Yenagoa metropolis to check flooding in preparation for the rains as predicted.
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