NEMA Warns of Flood Risks in Nine Sokoto LGAs for 2026

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has identified nine local government areas in Sokoto State as being at risk of flooding during the 2026 rainy season. NEMA's Director General, Mr. Zubaida Umar, disclosed this information during a stakeholder engagement for the 2026 National Preparedness Response Campaign on flood disaster-related hazards held in Sokoto.

The identified vulnerable local government areas include Gada, Goronyo, Gudu, Kebbe, Kware, Sabon Birni, Silam, Sokoto North, and Wamakko. NEMA classified Sokoto as one of the states with a high flood risk for 2026, with flooding expected to peak between July and September due to the Rima River potentially overflowing its banks.

The impact of flooding may extend beyond the peak rainy season, with elevated water levels anticipated to persist into October and November, leading to prolonged flood-related challenges affecting communities. Prof. Abubakar Junaidu, the Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), stated that flooding remains a devastating natural disaster affecting communities across the state, resulting in loss of lives, destruction of houses, farmland, roads, and socio-economic assets.