Lagos Government sounds fresh flood alert, advises relocation

The Lagos State Government has issued a renewed warning to residents in flood-prone areas such as Lekki, Ikorodu, and Ajegunle to temporarily relocate to higher grounds to avoid the dangers of flooding, Daily Watch Nigeria reports. 

Commissioner for the Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, made the announcement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, stressing the urgency of the matter.

“Those around the Ajilete axis of Lagos, that’s Ajegunle, they have to move.”

“Those around the coastline of Ikorodu; Majidu, have to move. Some areas around the Lekki corridor, too, not all,” Wahab advised.

He further added that Epe, Mushin, and Ikeja remain safe zones and urged residents in the Isheri OPIC axis to also stay alert.

Wahab explained that as a coastal city, Lagos is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and residents should expect flash floods this year, especially with projections from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) indicating more rainfall than the previous year.

“For those who stay in the lowland of Lagos, they have to move to the upland pending when the rain recedes,” he warned.

His comments come after hours-long rainfall from Sunday night to Monday evening resulted in widespread flooding across parts of Lagos.

Viral videos shared online showed submerged vehicles, flooded homes, and impassable roads in affected areas, severely disrupting business and daily life.

Despite the severe conditions, Wahab assured Lagosians that the government is actively addressing the situation by clearing blocked drainage systems and widening flood channels.

“We won’t tell Lagosians lies. Lagos will be exposed to the vagaries of climate change, and that means Lagos will have flash flooding, but as a state, we have to provide resilient infrastructure, and we have to tell our people to be responsible,” he said.

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While acknowledging that some aspects of flooding are beyond human control, Wahab reiterated the government’s commitment to minimizing the impact through proactive environmental management.