KEY POINTS
- Lagos government tells residents in flood-prone zones to relocate.
- Officials cite intensified rainfall and rising flood risks.
- Climate change impacts make Lagos increasingly vulnerable.
The Lagos State Government has issued a fresh evacuation alert to residents in vulnerable zones including Lekki, Ikorodu, and Ajegunle, warning of intensified flooding as seasonal rains deepen.
Environment Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab made the call during a TV appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, urging communities near coastlines and flood plains to relocate without delay.
“We’re asking people to act now,” Wahab said. “Ajilete in Ajegunle, the Majidun area in Ikorodu, and parts of Lekki — not all — are particularly at risk.”
The advisory follows a wave of floods on Monday that paralyzed much of Lagos, submerging streets, homes, and vehicles across the city. Heavy rainfall, which started Sunday night, continued into the following day and is expected to worsen as the season progresses.
Flooding threat grows as heavy rains persist
Wahab referenced forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which project more rainfall in 2025 than the previous year. He identified Isheri, around the OPIC axis, as another hotspot where residents should be on high alert.
While reassuring residents of generally safer areas such as Epe, Mushin, and Ikeja, Wahab emphasized that Lagos’s coastal nature makes it vulnerable to flash flooding—an impact of climate change that can no longer be ignored.
“Lagos will be exposed to the vagaries of climate change,” he said. “Flash flooding is inevitable, but we can prepare.”
Government responds with drainage, evacuation plans
To mitigate damage, Wahab noted that the government is clearing drainage channels and expanding flood pathways across the state. These efforts, he said, aim to boost resilience, reduce damage, and protect lives and property. “We won’t lie to Lagosians,” Wahab added. “Nature may take its course, but we are working to limit its impact.”
Still, Wahab stressed that public cooperation remains crucial. The government, he said, will continue to provide infrastructure and information, but residents must heed warnings and relocate from high-risk areas where necessary. “We all have a role to play,” he said. “Responsibility must be shared to keep our city safe.”
