The Lagos State Government has warned residents to brace for more heavy rainfall and possible flash floods in the coming weeks, urging those living in flood-prone communities to relocate to safer areas. The advisory follows days of persistent rain that submerged roads and homes across the state, disrupting businesses and stranding commuters.
Persistent rainfall causes widespread flooding
Tuesday's widespread flooding hit major roads and residential areas, including Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Maryland, Ikeja, Ikorodu, and Ajah. Commercial activities were disrupted, and many residents had to bail water from their homes. The rains began on Sunday and intensified on Tuesday, continuing into Wednesday.
Despite the flooding, the government appealed for calm, stating that measures were being implemented to mitigate the effects. Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, spoke on Wednesday during an inspection of the demolition of illegal structures on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway median.
Demolition targets illegal structures
Mr. Wahab said the demolition, ordered by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, targets illegal structures and commercial activities encroaching on the highway's median. He attributed the recent flooding to flash floods caused by heavy rainfall coinciding with high tidal levels, which temporarily prevented stormwater from draining into the lagoon and Atlantic Ocean.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier forecast thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and possible flash flooding in Lagos and other states. Mr. Wahab recalled that the state's 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction projected above-normal rainfall, with annual precipitation between 1,650 and 3,030 millimetres.
Flash flooding explained
“Flash flooding is basically when the sea level is up. When it rains heavily, your stormwater cannot discharge into the lagoon or its discharge point. It will hold back for about one or two hours. Even after the rain stops, within one or two hours, the water will recede because nature allows it to return to the discharge point. That’s why we call it flash flooding,” Mr. Wahab explained.
However, he acknowledged persistent flooding in areas like Ajiran, attributing it to illegal land reclamation by private landowners. “There are one or two areas that have persistent flooding, and we are addressing them. One of them is Ajiran. It is not because of the government, but because of irresponsible land-owning families. We are extending the drainage channels to the lagoon,” he said.
Waste disposal worsens flooding
Mr. Wahab urged residents to dispose of waste properly through designated Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators, warning that dumping refuse on roads, drainage channels, and road medians significantly worsens flooding. He advised reporting erring PSP operators to the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
The demolition is part of a wider enforcement campaign against environmental violations. In recent years, the government has repeatedly removed illegal structures on drainage alignments and road setbacks, while warning against trading on medians and dumping refuse in drainage channels.
Enforcement to continue
Mr. Wahab said the government would strictly enforce the ban on trading and other illegal activities on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway median. He warned that anyone returning to occupy cleared areas would be removed and prosecuted. “We just need to see the level of compliance and the level of work that has been done based on the directive of the governor. We’ve drawn the mark on the ground. It’s a major highway. Tons of taxpayers’ money have been used to put this in place. In the past few years, we’ve been talking to them and moving them back. For now, the operation is once and for all to control it. Let the businesses have a setback and make the median free for all road users,” he explained.
Enforcement teams will continue to patrol the corridor daily. The wide median is reserved for a proposed rail line, so it cannot be occupied for trading or other commercial activities. “It’s for the rail line coming this way. That’s why it’s wide and we have to keep it free for them,” Mr. Wahab added.
Prosecution of offenders
The commissioner also blamed indiscriminate waste disposal for worsening flooding. “Keep our surroundings clean. Let us use the PSP operators. If they are not coming, call LAWMA. Inform LAWMA and let it collect your waste. It doesn’t speak well of us for people to take waste from their homes and dump it on the median. It’s a polluter-pays policy, but some people are not even paying,” he stated.
Mr. Wahab disclosed that more than 1,000 offenders had been prosecuted in the past year. “We have been prosecuting. In the past year, over 1,000 people have been prosecuted. We are not holding back. That is what the law provides for. Once there is a law, you must enforce it and attach consequences for bad behaviour,” he said.
