Are there public shelters in Nigeria?

Short answer. Nigeria publishes no network of public blast or fallout shelters and no shelter count. After a disaster, NEMA's 2018 policy provides for temporary relief camps and intermediate shelters, run or coordinated by NEMA, State Emergency Management Agencies and local authorities ¹. In practice these are often schools: in August 2025, flood-displaced people in Jimeta sought refuge at two secondary schools ².

Does Nigeria have public bomb or fallout shelters?

No. Phaenyx found no official network, list or count of public protective shelters in Nigeria. NEMA's National Disaster Risk Management Policy (2018) plans "temporary relief camps and intermediate shelters" for people affected by an emergency, with registration, emergency shelter, food and water, first aid, sanitation and information ¹. These are places to stay after leaving home, not protective shelters.

Who runs emergency shelters?

The 2018 policy says these facilities are provided or coordinated by Local Emergency Management Authorities, State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and NEMA, as appropriate ¹. It also lists, among the functions of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the "evacuation of the civilian population, provision and management of shelters for civilians" ¹.

How do I find a safe place in a flood?

No official map or list of relief camps exists in advance; they are set up as the event unfolds ¹². The official advice is to move early:

• Heed early warning information and relocate to safer, higher ground whenever there is a threat of flooding ³.
• Move to higher ground early; don't wait ⁴.
• Follow instructions from emergency authorities and return only when they say it is safe ⁴.

For urgent, life-threatening flooding, contact your SEMA or NEMA; NIHSA gives 112 for flood emergencies ⁴. See the emergency contacts page.

Should I shelter in place or leave?

In Nigeria's main hazard, floods, official advice favours leaving early ³⁴. For other emergencies, our guide shelter or evacuate? explains the general choice, and chemical shelter-in-place covers an industrial release.

Frequently asked questions

How many public shelters does Nigeria have?

None are published. Nigeria has no public shelter network ¹.

Where do flood victims go?

To temporary relief camps opened by NEMA, the state and local authorities, often in schools ¹².

Can I build my own shelter?

No shelter-specific rule exists; see build a shelter.

Preparedness index: Nigeria ranks 65th of 67, 19/100 · full ranking