People living in Lagos, Nigeria’s busy city, are worried again as a new flood warning has been released. The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has listed Lagos among the states that could face serious flooding in 2025.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, spoke about the flood alert last week. He asked people living in places like Lagos Island, Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Ajah to get ready for flooding. He said this is because of heavy rain, rising sea levels, and blocked drainage systems.
For many in Lagos, this is not new. The city has seen many floods before. One of the worst floods happened in 2012. Streets like Ahmadu Bello Way and Ozumba Mbadiwe were under water. Homes, businesses, and cars were damaged, and people were stuck for hours.
Many people have shared their fears. Funmi Adebayo, who lives in Lekki Phase 1, said her sitting room was flooded last year, and she lost items worth over N2 million. “We live in fear every time it rains,” she said.
Kennedy Terfa, who works on Victoria Island, said flooding has become a normal thing. In 2022, his office equipment was damaged by floodwater. He said the government always promises to fix things, but not much changes.
Titi Balogun, a teacher in Oniru Estate, said she barely sleeps during the rainy season. “Last year, a neighbour’s fence fell down because of the flood,” she added.
Ayo Shonibare, a driver who works around Ajah and Lekki, said: “Once it rains, the roads are blocked. The drains are filled with dirt, and we lose money because we can’t work.”
In response, the Lagos State Government has said it is ready to handle the floods. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, said teams are already working to clean drains and canals.
He mentioned the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG) is now working all year to stop flooding. He asked residents to help by not throwing waste into drains.
The city is trying to prepare, but residents remain worried. With the rainy season coming, everyone is hoping for better action this time.
