Lagos Warns Lekki, Ikorodu, Ajegunle, Isheri Residents to Relocate Over Flood Risk
Lagos | August 6, 2025 —The Lagos State Government has urged residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to relocate to safer ground as the state braces for heavier rainfall this year. The warning, issued by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, follows NiMet’s forecast that Lagos will experience significantly more rain in 2025 than in the previous year. Wahab identified Lekki, Ikorodu, Ajegunle, and Isheri (OPIC axis) as high-risk zones, warning that flash floods were likely. His comments came after continuous rainfall from Sunday night into Monday caused widespread flooding, submerging homes and vehicles in several communities. “We won’t tell Lagosians lies. Lagos will be exposed to the vagaries of climate change, and that means flash flooding will occur,” Wahab said. He assured residents that the state was investing heavily in mitigation, with ₦15bn spent on drainage infrastructure in 2024 and ongoing efforts to clear and expand water channels. Projects include System 44 in Lekki, drainage upgrades in Maryland and Ikeja, and the installation of high-capacity pump stations—such as the Ilubirin facility, which pumps three million gallons of water per hour. Wahab cautioned against building on wetlands and floodplains, warning that illegal structures would be demolished. He also defended the government’s environmental enforcement drive, which has led to the shutdown of non-compliant nightclubs and commercial premises. Meanwhile, NEMA reports that floods have killed 191 people across 20 states in 2025, with 94 missing, 239 injured, and 48,056 displaced. Over 134,000 people have been affected nationwide, including 60,071 children. Worst-hit states include Imo (28,030 affected), Rivers (22,345), Adamawa (12,613), Abia (11,907), Borno (8,164), and Kaduna (7,334). In 2024, Nigeria recorded about five million flood victims, with over 1.2 million displaced and more than 1,000 deaths.
