Nigerian authorities have issued a flood alert for 14 states, warning residents and local governments to prepare for possible flooding as heavy rains continue to batter parts of the country.

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) said in an advisory released on Wednesday that the affected states face a medium flood risk between Wednesday and next Monday as the rainy season gathers momentum.

The states identified are Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger and Plateau.

NIHSA warned that localized flooding could occur along major river channels, with 16 hydrological monitoring stations identified as high-risk locations. 

The agency said several communities, local government areas and critical public facilities including schools, healthcare centers and markets, could be affected if preventive measures are not taken.

Among the areas flagged as particularly vulnerable are Saminaka along the Karam River, the Waya Dam site on the Waya River, and Amber on the Amber River.

The advisory is intended to strengthen disaster preparedness, emergency response planning and flood risk reduction efforts by federal, state and local authorities.

NIHSA urged residents in flood-prone communities to move to safer locations where necessary, clear blocked drainage systems and avoid driving or walking through flooded roads and waterways.

Nigeria experiences widespread flooding almost every rainy season, with the rains typically beginning in March before intensifying from mid-May through much of the country. 

Floods regularly destroy homes, damage farmland and infrastructure, displace thousands of people and disrupt economic activity.

In recent years, authorities have attributed the growing frequency and severity of flooding to a combination of climate change, rapid urbanization, poor drainage systems and settlements built along floodplains. 

More intense rainfall has increasingly overwhelmed existing infrastructure, leaving many communities vulnerable to flash floods and river overflows.

The latest warning comes as emergency agencies across Nigeria remain on high alert, with officials calling on communities to heed evacuation notices and follow safety advisories to minimize the potential loss of life and property.

(With input from Xinhua)