Heavy rainfall on Tuesday, September 23, left parts of Lagos submerged, disrupting transport and daily activities across the state.
Floodwaters swept through several areas, including Mile 2, Lekki Phase 1, Lekki Expressway, 3rd Mainland Bridge, Ago Palace Way, Ayobo-Ipaja, Fola Osibo, and Sangotedo, forcing residents and commuters to abandon vehicles and trek long distances.
On Wednesday, residents took to X to blame the worsening floods on blocked drainage channels. Videos widely shared online showed cars and motorcycles struggling to navigate waterlogged streets.
An X user wrote: “Earlier today, September 23, parts of Lagos, including Ago Palace Way (Apple Junction, Ago Bridge) and Mile 2, were flooded. I captured these scenes to show the reality we face every rainy season.”
In response, Lagos Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, sympathised with affected residents. He explained that Lagos, being a coastal city, is naturally susceptible to flooding, especially during heavy downpours combined with tidal forces.
Wahab said the government is investing in drainage systems, desilting projects, and strict enforcement of environmental regulations. He attributed flooding in Kusenla to a technical issue—where the downstream is higher than the drainage invert—adding that the state is addressing the problem through a pumping station project.
He further noted that around House on the Rock Church, illegal buildings and blocked drains worsened flooding. Wahab urged residents to stop dumping waste indiscriminately and avoid building on floodplains.
Reassuring Lagosians, he said most of the floodwater had already receded and warned that illegal structures, including unapproved land reclamations, would be demolished.
“The Ministry remains committed to strengthening flood management systems, but this requires the support and responsible actions of all Lagosians,” Wahab said.
Meanwhile, the federal government has issued flood alerts for several high-risk states, including Lagos. Others on the watchlist include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, the FCT, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe.
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