Following the recent downpour, severe flash floods have impacted several communities across Akwa Ibom State, destroying homes, household properties, and livestock.
Residents of Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, have urged the state administration to find a long-term solution to the city’s ongoing flooding.
In an interview with news men in the state, the impacted locals bemoaned the effects of the rain on their properties and means of subsistence.
Recall that designated authorities earlier predicted that Akwa Ibom would experience flooding in 2026.
In their annual flood outlooks and flash-flood risk alerts, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) both identified the state as a vulnerable location.
Oron, Eket, and Uyo now serve as examples of susceptible urban hotspots.
However, responding to the predictions, the state government said it had put measures in place to minimise the impact of the rains such as regular desilting of existing drains and construction of new ones.
But in spite of these efforts, flash floods have already severely impacted parts of the state capital. Some of the affected areas include Abak Road, Ewet Housing Estate and Ikot Ekpene Road.
Other parts of the state capital experiencing heavy flooding include Afaha Ube along Ikot Ekpene Road, and the popular Itam market, where Mr Itoro George, Youth President, Afaha Ube community, and Titus Jonathan, a trader, appeal to the government for help.
NiMet Issues Flood Alert for 27 States
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) previously issued a flash-flood alert from July 1 to 10, 2026, warning that intensified rainfall at the onset of the peak rainy season could trigger flash flooding across 27 states.
According to the NiMet report, the heavy rainfall recorded across several parts of the country in June left the soil highly saturated, significantly reducing its capacity to absorb additional rainfall.
As a result, NiMet warned that low-lying communities, urban centres, coastal areas, and locations with poor drainage face a heightened risk of flooding in the coming days.
The advisory identified the most vulnerable as; Taraba, Sokoto, Borno, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Adamawa, Kwara, Kogi, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Edo, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa.
The agency also warned that isolated flash floods could result from the expected heavy rainfall, especially in densely populated urban areas and villages that are vulnerable to flooding.
Despite these recurring warnings, residents in many urban centres have continued to blame poor drainage systems, indiscriminate waste disposal and inadequate flood-control infrastructure for worsening the impact of heavy rains.
Backstory…
Meanwhile, the devastating flood destruction plaguing major parts of Akwa Ibom state comes amid similar crisis facing parts of Lagos state as floodwaters have swept through several communities in the State following hours of heavy rainfall.
This has resulted in submerged homes and roads, disrupted movement and completely knocking out power across parts of the state.
Videos spotted on social media showed flooded streets in areas including; FESTAC, Gbagada, Evans, Olushi, Anikantamo and Adeniji Adele on the Lagos Island, with residents wading through waterlogged roads and motorists struggling to navigate submerged streets
Read Also: Heavy Flooding Submerges Homes, Knocks Out Power Across Parts of Lagos
