The Lagos State Government has appealed for calm as persistent rainfall triggered widespread flash flooding across several parts of the metropolis, leaving major roads submerged and disrupting movement in many communities.
Government officials explained that the flooding was caused by unusually intense rainstorms that overwhelmed drainage infrastructure in low-lying areas such as Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikeja, Gbagada, Mushin, and Mafoluku, where commuters were stranded as roads temporarily turned into waterways.
According to the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the situation is linked to extreme weather patterns combined with the city’s complex coastal geography, where interactions between the Atlantic Ocean, lagoons, rivers, and creeks slow down stormwater discharge during heavy rainfall periods.
Authorities noted that similar flood incidents were also recorded in other parts of the world during the same period, underscoring the growing impact of climate variability on urban centres.
To address the situation, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved emergency dredging and maintenance of 28 additional drainage channels, alongside continuous desilting and monitoring of flood-prone locations across the state.
Officials stressed that while government is investing heavily in drainage upgrades and flood control infrastructure, residents also have a critical role to play by avoiding dumping waste into drains, blocking waterways, or building on drainage paths—actions that significantly worsen flooding.
Emergency response teams have been deployed to affected areas to assist with water evacuation and support stranded residents, while motorists have been advised to avoid driving through flooded roads during heavy rainfall for safety reasons.
The state government reiterated its commitment to long-term flood management, while acknowledging that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of rainfall events in coastal cities like Lagos.
