Country: Nigeria Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Date of event 14-09-2026 What happened, where and when? Nigeria entered the 2026 rainy season with significant flood exposure, prompting the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), with IFRC support, to activate an Imminent DREF in July 2026. The operation focused on early warning, community preparedness, evacuation planning, risk communication and community level mitigation in areas identified as vulnerable to flooding. As the season progressed, forecast risk materialized into flooding across several parts of the country, resulting in displacement, damage to homes and assets, disruption of livelihoods and access to essential services, and increasing humanitarian needs. Between 10 and 16 September 2026, NRCS conducted a multi sectoral assessment across 14 states, covering 3, 944 respondents. The assessment estimated that 54, 540 people had been affected, including 19, 823 displaced people (36. 3%). Ondo recorded the highest proportion of affected people who were displaced at 72. 4%. The findings confirmed that the impact extended beyond displacement, with significant damage to shelter and household assets, disruption of food access and livelihoods, and gaps in WASH, health and psychosocial support. The situation has continued to evolve. As of 18 September, the NRCS Emergency Operations Reporting (EOR) dashboard recorded 73, 247 people affected and 31, 175 displaced, based on 52 incident reports from 11 states and 32 LGAS, with 38 deaths, 1, 968 injuries and 53, 382 people reported in need. These figures are not combined with the assessment results because the two datasets have different coverage and methodologies. The EOR provides the latest operational picture, while the assessment provides household level evidence for response planning. The geographic footprint has also expanded beyond the locations initially prioritized under the Imminent DREF. National coordination was strengthened through NEMA’s activation of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) on 4 August 2026. In addition, NIHSA’s National Flood Advisory NFA 2026 262, issued on 19 September and valid through 25 September, identified 15 states at high riverine flood risk, including several within the proposed response footprint. This indicates that the hazard remains active and further flooding is possible. Against this progression from forecast risk to confirmed humanitarian impacts and continuing flood risk, NRCS proposes to scale up the Imminent DREF to a Response DREF. The initial operation established early action and preparedness capacity. The response phase will address the most severe unmet needs while maintaining early warning, preparedness and risk reduction measures in areas that remain exposed. The proposed Response DREF will cover 10 states: Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Ondo and Ogun, providing direct assistance to 3, 000 households over six months and indirect support to approximately 73, 000 people through early warning, community engagement, preparedness, WASH and public health risk communication, and targeted flood risk reduction.
Nigeria Flood Operation: DREF Operational Update (MDRNG045)
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