Lagos Government Orders Immediate Relocation From Flood-Prone Areas As Rains Intensify

The Lagos State Government has issued an urgent appeal to residents living in flood-prone areas of Lekki, Ikorodu, and Ajegunle to relocate to higher ground without delay, warning that intensified rainfall is expected to trigger even more severe flooding in the coming days.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the call during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday. He stressed the need for residents in vulnerable areas to act swiftly in order to avoid preventable disasters.

“Those around the Ajilete axis of Lagos — that’s Ajegunle — they have to move,” Wahab stated. “Those along the coastline of Ikorodu, including Majidun, have to move. Some parts of the Lekki corridor too — not all.”

He also identified Isheri, particularly the OPIC axis, as another high-risk area where residents should remain on alert. However, Wahab reassured that other locations such as Epe, Mushin, and Ikeja remain relatively safe from the threat of flooding.

This warning follows widespread flooding across several parts of Lagos on Monday after relentless rainfall began Sunday night and continued into the next day. Viral footage from the affected areas showed homes and vehicles submerged and roads completely waterlogged, bringing commercial activity to a standstill in Nigeria’s economic capital.

Wahab noted that the flooding was not unexpected, citing earlier forecasts by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which predicted that Lagos would witness heavier rainfall this year compared to 2023.

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

He emphasized that Lagos, being a coastal city, is inherently vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, particularly flash floods. Nevertheless, he assured residents that the state government is implementing measures to reduce the risks.

“Lagos will be exposed to the vagaries of climate change, and that means Lagos will have flash flooding,” Wahab stated. “But as a state, we have to provide resilient infrastructure, and we have to tell our people to be responsible.”

He added that the government is actively clearing drainage systems and expanding flood paths to ensure better water flow during heavy rainfall.

“We won’t tell Lagosians lies,” Wahab concluded. “If nature takes its course, what we can do is to mitigate its impact.”