The Lagos State Government has advised residents living in flood-prone communities to temporarily relocate as the city continues to battle persistent heavy downpours and flash flooding.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, issued the advisory during a live broadcast on Tuesday, warning that more rainfall is expected in the coming weeks, in line with earlier forecasts by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
“Let me start by saying to Lagosians, yes, we knew this was going to happen,” Wahab said. “NiMet gave us a forecast as early as March, and by April, we had intensified our advocacy. We’ve briefed Lagosians about five times in the past three months.”
He explained that the floods are the result of a combination of Lagos’ geographical location and the intensity of rainfall predicted by weather authorities.
“For those who stay on the lowlands of Lagos, they may have to move to the uplands pending when the rain recedes,” he advised.
Wahab emphasized that the government is actively responding to the crisis, citing ongoing drainage clearing efforts and infrastructure upgrades.
“We’ve engaged our emergency flood abatement gang throughout the year. In the past few months, they’ve cleaned drainage systems across the state,” he said, adding that about 50 kilometers of secondary drainage collectors and 38 primary channels have been constructed in the past two years.
Addressing specific flood incidents in areas such as Ijede, Gberigbe, and Okeletu in Ikorodu, Wahab said some were caused by technical oversights, including a damming of downstream areas by contractors unaware of the imminent rainfall.
He also pointed to natural tidal influences affecting neighborhoods like Lekki, where the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and Lagos Lagoon often leads to “lock-up” conditions—where elevated tidal levels prevent stormwater from draining properly, resulting in flash floods.
“The rain yesterday lasted about 15 to 16 hours nonstop, which triggered the lock-up scenario I have always spoken about,” he explained.
Wahab also urged Lagosians to play their part by avoiding indiscriminate dumping of waste, which he said worsens flooding.
“When you dump solid waste in drainages or on road medians, you’re inviting floods,” he warned.
He concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to flood mitigation and called for public cooperation.
“Lagos is a coastal city, and one-third of its landmass is water. We must face the reality that flash flooding will occur, but we must not aggravate the situation through human actions,” he said.
Several parts of the state, including major roads and residential areas, have been inundated in recent days, leaving commuters stranded and homes waterlogged. Authorities say efforts are underway to manage the situation and prevent further damage.
