An uneasy calm hangs over Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, particularly on the Island, as residents brace for what experts predict could be one of the worst flood seasons in recent years.
The fear was heightened following a fresh warning by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, which listed Lagos among states at high risk of severe flooding in its 2025 Annual Flood Outlook unveiled last week in Abuja.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, who presided over the event, urged residents in flood-prone communities, particularly those on Lagos Island, Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi,and Ajah, to prepare for severe flooding due to heavy rainfall, rising sea levels and overstretched urban drainage infrastructure.
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Daily Post Nigeria
Daily Post Nigeria
NewsFlooding: Panic spreads in Lagos over impending disaster alertPublished on April 14, 2025By Daily Post Staff
An uneasy calm hangs over Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, particularly on the Island, as residents brace for what experts predict could be one of the worst flood seasons in recent years.
The fear was heightened following a fresh warning by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, which listed Lagos among states at high risk of severe flooding in its 2025 Annual Flood Outlook unveiled last week in Abuja.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, who presided over the event, urged residents in flood-prone communities, particularly those on Lagos Island, Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi,and Ajah, to prepare for severe flooding due to heavy rainfall, rising sea levels and overstretched urban drainage infrastructure.
For many Lagosians, this is not an unfamiliar dread. The city, perched precariously on the Atlantic coast, has witnessed repeated flood disasters over the years, incidents that have damaged properties, paralysed businesses and displaced many families.
The pattern dates as far back as 2012 when Lagos experienced severe flooding following torrential rains in July. Major streets such as Ahmadu Bello Way, Ozumba Mbadiwe and Marina on the Island were completely submerged.
Businesses were forced to close, while vehicles and pedestrians alike were stranded for hours in waist-deep water
The year marked one of the worst flood disasters in the state’s history. That year, floodwaters submerged homes across Ikoyi, Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island and parts of Ajah.
Residents waded through waist-high water as several roads became impassable. Many were displaced, with properties worth millions of naira lost to the deluge.
In the wake of NIHSA’s warning, Lagos residents have expressed deep concerns over the looming flood threat.
Meanwhile, responding to the growing tension, the Lagos State Government has reiterated its preparedness to manage the anticipated downpours and flooding, particularly in vulnerable areas on the Island.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, during an inspection of the ongoing Lagos Island Urban Regeneration Project, assured residents that proactive steps were underway.
Wahab confirmed that the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG) had been fully mobilized to operate year-round, focusing on desilting blocked drainages, clearing canals, and addressing flood-prone areas.
“We are not treating this as business as usual. Our drainage clearing and urban regeneration projects on Lagos Island and other flood-prone areas are in top gear.
“EFAG teams have been deployed across the state and will remain active throughout the year to prevent disaster,” Wahab stated.
He further appealed to residents to cooperate with government agencies by avoiding indiscriminate waste disposal, which contributes to drainage blockage
