Heavy Rain Triggers Widespread Flooding Across Lagos

Heavy rainfall on Sunday triggered widespread flooding across several parts of Lagos, leaving roads submerged, vehicles stranded and drainage channels clogged with refuse.

The flooding affected both the Lagos Island and Mainland, with areas including Mushin, Gbagada, Surulere, Ijesha, Ilupeju, Shomolu, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Oshodi, Victoria Island and parts of Lekki experiencing severe inundation.

Videos shared by residents on social media showed major roads and expressways overtaken by floodwaters, while heaps of waste and debris obstructed stormwater drainage.

The footage also captured residents wading through flooded streets as several vehicles became trapped in waterlogged and muddy sections of the affected roads.

Reacting in a series of posts on X, Lagos commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) intervention team had been deployed in some of the affected locations.

“The LAWMA Intervention Team has been notified and will attend to the situation immediately. We appreciate your vigilance and continued support in helping us keep Lagos clean,” Wahab wrote in response to one of the videos.

In another response to a resident, the commissioner said maintaining a clean environment requires collective effort.

“Achieving a cleaner Lagos is a shared responsibility, and your contribution is truly appreciated. Together, through our collective efforts, we can build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable city for everyone,” he said.

Wahab also attributed the flooding to the prolonged and intense rainfall predicted for the year by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

“NiMet had earlier forecast that 2026 would witness above-normal rainfall, with Lagos expected to experience a greater impact due to its coastal geography and low-lying terrain,” he said.
“As predicted, the rainy season has been longer, with prolonged and intense rainfall experienced across many parts of the country.

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“It is also important to note that the flooding currently being experienced is not peculiar to Lagos State. Similar incidents have been recorded in Ogun, Osun, Abia, Kogi, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Adamawa and several other northern states.”

The commissioner said the state government had intensified the clearing of drainage channels, enforcement against illegal developments obstructing waterways and other interventions to reduce the impact of flooding.

He, however, urged residents to avoid indiscriminate waste disposal and other activities that obstruct drainage channels, adding that protecting lives and property requires collective responsibility.

He said, “Given NiMet’s forecast, the risks associated with heavy rainfall remain significant.

Government will continue to do its part, but safeguarding lives and property also requires the cooperation and collective responsibility of every resident.”