The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has warned that 246 communities could experience flooding between July 30 and August 5, 2026.
According to the agency’s Flood Advisory, the affected communities are in Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Sagbama, and Yenagoa LGA’s.
It warned that although all its monitoring stations within Bayelsa are currently recording normal water levels, the state remains vulnerable to flooding due to rising upstream river flows.
It attributed the threat to water levels at the Katsina Ala gauge on the Katsina Ala River, which have exceeded advisory thresholds, with the resulting inundation expected to affect downstream communities in Bayelsa state.
The advisory identified 246 communities as being at risk, including Ekpeingbene, Angalabiri, Kesin Gbene, Adelediri, Ojrus Gbene, Wenkpe Camp, Oweikezi Camp and others.
The agency also disclosed that the anticipated flooding could impact 180 schools, 51 health facilities, 17 markets, 166 religious centres, and one other critical facility across the affected areas.
The agency urged residents living in flood-prone communities to immediately relocate people, livestock and valuable property to safer, higher ground.
NIHSA further called for the mobilisation of community-based early warning volunteers and urged residents to monitor its daily flood bulletins for updates on river conditions.
The agency warned members of the public against attempting to cross flooded roads, bridges or fast-flowing water on foot or by vehicle.
It also recommended the clearing of drainage channels and river-mouth blockages to reduce flood impacts, while cautioning against building or residing within floodplains.
