Lagos Directs Immediate Relocation of Residents In Flood-Prone Areas To Higher Grounds

Following a new seven-day flood alert advisory (NFA-2026-2022) issued over the weekend by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), which affects Lagos and 14 other states, the Lagos State Government has directed the immediate evacuation of residents living in low-lying and flood-prone communities to prevent loss of lives and damage to property.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, listed areas identified as vulnerable to flooding.

These include Eti-Osa, Lagos Island Local Government Area, Oke-Ira Nla (Ajah), Kirikiri (Sea Port), Ilaje Waterfront Jetty, and Jetty Terminal B, among others.

According to the Commissioner, the State Government is treating the advisory with the utmost seriousness and has intensified monitoring activities across the identified locations, as well as other riverine, low-lying, and flood-prone communities.

Wahab urged residents in vulnerable areas not to disregard the warning or wait until floodwaters rise before taking action, stressing that early preparation and temporary relocation to safer areas could prevent avoidable tragedies.

He reiterated that residents of flood-prone communities should move to higher ground and remain there until the peak of the resurgent rainy season has passed.

“We are urging Lagosians, particularly those living in flood-prone and low-lying areas, not to take this warning lightly. When the signs point to danger, the safest decision is to move early. No property is worth risking a life,” Wahab stated.

He noted that Lagos typically experiences a second phase of the rainy season from September, characterised by increased rainfall, rising water levels, and tidal influences that can exacerbate flooding in vulnerable locations.

The Commissioner therefore advised residents living near rivers, lagoons, wetlands, drainage channels, and other water bodies to remain vigilant and comply with all safety advisories issued by relevant government agencies.

Wahab specifically called on communities situated along the Ogun River and other major waterways to exercise heightened caution, noting that upstream rainfall intensity and water levels in connected river systems could significantly affect downstream conditions in Lagos.

He also urged residents of low-lying areas and riverbank communities, including Isheri North, Kara, Itowolo, Ajegunle, Majidun, Ogolonto, parts of Agboyi, and other settlements downstream of Isheri Olofin, to remain on high alert during the period 19 to 25 September.

The Commissioner further advised residents across the state, particularly those in coastal and waterfront communities, to closely monitor official flood forecasts and be prepared to relocate temporarily whenever flooding becomes imminent.

According to the NiHSA report, rising river levels could result in flooding across vulnerable communities and impact critical facilities such as schools, healthcare centres, markets, farms, and places of worship.

Wahab therefore called on affected local governments, emergency management agencies, community leaders, and residents to activate early warning and response mechanisms, while ensuring that people, livestock, and valuable possessions are moved to safer locations where necessary.

He stated that the Lagos State Government would continue to monitor river levels, rainfall patterns, and other hydrological developments in collaboration with relevant federal agencies.

He added that routine cleaning, maintenance, and monitoring of drainage infrastructure across the state would also be sustained.

The Commissioner appealed to residents to support the government’s flood mitigation efforts by refraining from indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains, canals, and waterways, noting that blocked drainage channels can worsen flooding and delay the recession of floodwaters.

He also cautioned residents against walking or driving through flooded roads, bridges, and fast-moving water, urging those in vulnerable areas to make arrangements for temporary relocation whenever official warnings indicate an imminent threat.

Wahab stressed that the protection of lives and property remains the government’s foremost priority and urged Lagosians to treat flood forecasts as critical safety information requiring immediate action.

He assured residents that the State Government would continue to deploy all necessary measures to reduce flood risks and provide timely updates as the situation evolves.

He further urged Lagosians to remain calm, vigilant, and responsive to official advisories.