The Lagos State Government has issued an urgent appeal to residents living in flood-prone communities such as Lekki, Ikorodu, and Ajegunle, advising them to relocate to safer areas as the state braces for increased rainfall and potential flooding.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, delivered the warning on Tuesday during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme aired by Channels Television.
Wahab stressed that the state is already witnessing the effects of intensified rainfall, with recent flooding incidents impacting key areas. He urged residents of vulnerable low-lying zones to take precautionary action now before conditions worsen.
“Communities in Ajilete, within the Ajegunle axis, as well as parts of the Lekki corridor and Majidun in Ikorodu must consider immediate relocation,” Wahab said. “These areas are especially susceptible to flash floods during this rainy season.”
He also identified Isheri, particularly the OPIC area, as another high-risk location, advising residents there to remain vigilant. However, he assured that locations like Epe, Mushin, and Ikeja are less vulnerable and currently considered safe.
DAILY POST recalls that there was a severe flooding across Lagos on Monday, triggered by continuous downpours that started Sunday night. Viral social media footage captured extensive water damage, flooded homes, stranded vehicles, and streets completely submerged, paralysing economic activities across the metropolis.
Wahab noted that the current weather pattern had been anticipated, citing earlier warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, which forecast more intense rainfall in Lagos this year compared to 2023.
“Residents in low-lying parts of Lagos must temporarily relocate to higher ground until rainfall subsides,” he advised.
He highlighted Lagos’s geographical vulnerability as a coastal city, stating that the state remains highly exposed to the impacts of climate change, particularly flash flooding.
“Climate change will continue to affect us. Lagos is not immune to its consequences,” Wahab explained. “Our responsibility as a government is to build resilient infrastructure and ensure people are aware of the risks.”
To mitigate the threat, he said the government is working proactively to clear drainage systems, expand water channels, and improve flood management infrastructure throughout the city.
“We won’t mislead Lagosians, we can’t stop nature, but we can reduce its impact, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” he said.
While reassuring the public, Wahab emphasized the need for collective responsibility. He urged residents in high-risk zones to heed government directives, cooperate with emergency response efforts, and take early action to safeguard their lives and property.