Recurring floods across Lagos have once again raised concerns over the city’s ability to cope with heavy rainfall, with experts blaming a combination of rapid urbanisation, poor planning, disappearing wetlands and inadequate flood-control infrastructure for the persistent problem.

Recent downpours left several communities, including Kunsela Road in Ikate, Gbagada, Ologolo, Ajiran, Ikorodu Road and Shogunle in Oshodi, submerged, disrupting businesses, damaging property and forcing residents to wade through floodwaters.

For many Lagosians, seasonal flooding has become a familiar reality. However, the latest incidents have reignited debate over why the commercial capital continues to experience severe flooding despite ongoing drainage projects and government interventions.

Urban planning expert, Tpl. Niyi Aderohunmu, said decades of replacing wetlands and mangrove forests with residential and commercial developments have significantly reduced Lagos’ natural ability to absorb rainwater.

According to him, wetlands once acted as natural reservoirs that stored excess rainfall and released it gradually, but large-scale development has replaced these areas with concrete surfaces that generate faster runoff.

He explained that the destruction of natural drainage channels, especially along the Lekki corridor, has made many low-lying communities increasingly vulnerable whenever heavy rainfall coincides with high tides.

Geographer Abeeb Babajide Ajagbe also described wetlands and mangroves as the city’s “natural flood infrastructure,” warning that continuous development in environmentally sensitive areas has worsened flooding.

He argued that the problem extends beyond environmental degradation, pointing to planning failures, weak enforcement and approvals granted for developments in flood-prone locations.

Environmental resource management expert Gbenga Oloniniran shared similar concerns, saying unregulated urban expansion has removed natural barriers that previously reduced the impact of flooding.

According to him, low-lying communities now experience faster surface runoff because many natural flood buffers have disappeared.

Independent researcher Tonami Playman, however, believes Lagos’ flooding cannot be blamed solely on climate change or environmental loss.

He argued that the city’s greatest challenge is the absence of large-scale flood-control infrastructure capable of storing excess stormwater during periods of intense rainfall.

Playman noted that while drainage systems are important, cities such as Tokyo, Chicago and Kuala Lumpur have significantly reduced flood risks through massive investments in underground reservoirs, storage tunnels and flood-control facilities.

He maintained that Lagos requires similar long-term infrastructure rather than relying almost entirely on drainage expansion.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government attributed the recurring flooding to a combination of coastal geography, climate change, rapid urbanisation and the destruction of wetlands.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, explained that nearly one-third of Lagos consists of lagoons, rivers, streams and swamps, making flooding difficult to eliminate completely.

He said the city naturally drains stormwater into these water bodies, but rapid development over the years has reduced the capacity of wetlands to absorb excess rainfall.

The commissioner also blamed illegal land reclamation in areas such as Ajiran, Agungi, Ikota and the Chevron corridor for obstructing natural drainage channels and worsening floods in surrounding communities.

According to Wahab, another challenge is “tidal locking,” a situation where heavy rainfall coincides with high sea levels, preventing floodwater from flowing into the Atlantic Ocean and lagoons until the tides recede.

He said the state government has intensified desilting of drainage channels, expanded flood-control infrastructure and issued flood advisories ahead of the peak rainy season to reduce the impact of flooding.

Experts, however, insist that drainage projects alone will not solve the problem.

They recommended stricter enforcement of building regulations, restoration and protection of wetlands, investment in modern flood-control infrastructure, adoption of nature-based solutions such as permeable pavements and green spaces, as well as stronger urban planning policies.

The Lagos State Government recently began demolishing structures obstructing drainage channels in Agungi, Ajiran and Ikota as part of efforts to restore waterways and reduce flooding.

The government has also unveiled plans to develop a blue-green drainage network involving canals, estate lakes and pumping stations aimed at improving flood management across the state.

Despite these measures, experts believe Lagos will continue to experience recurring floods unless long-term investments are made to strengthen both natural and engineered flood-control systems.

The post Why Lagos Keeps Flooding: Experts Explain Causes and Solutions appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Former spokesman of President Bola Tinubu’s South-East campaign, Josef Onoh, has blamed the recent flooding in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on illegal developments along waterways, calling for urgent federal intervention to prevent further environmental damage.

Heavy rainfall on Monday left several parts of Abuja submerged, with videos showing stranded vehicles and flooded roads across major districts of the city.

Flooding Caused by Encroachment, Not Just Rainfall — Onoh

Onoh, who previously served as Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), said the incident was not merely the result of heavy rainfall but a consequence of “reckless development and criminal encroachment of waterways.”

He warned that without immediate action, Abuja could face a worsening environmental crisis.

Calls for Audit and Demolition of Illegal Structures

Onoh urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take urgent steps to address the situation.

He recommended a comprehensive audit and mapping of all encroached waterways and floodplains, alongside strict enforcement measures.

His proposals include:

• Demolition of illegal structures built on waterways
• Mass desilting of blocked drainage systems
• Rehabilitation of drainage infrastructure
• Stronger enforcement of environmental protection laws

Warning Over Future Flood Risks in Abuja

Onoh cautioned that if urgent action is not taken, Abuja residents may soon face severe disruptions after rainfall events.

He warned that roads, bridges, public buildings, and utilities could be at increasing risk, while human lives remain vulnerable to flooding incidents.

Recurring Flood Challenges in the FCT

Flooding has become an annual challenge in parts of Abuja during the rainy season, often linked by urban planners to poor drainage systems and unchecked construction on floodplains.

Experts say sustainable urban planning and strict enforcement of building regulations are critical to preventing future disasters in the capital city.

The post Abuja Flooding: Onoh Blames Illegal Waterway Development, Calls for Urgent Federal Action appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

A joint inter-agency team comprising officials from the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Nigerian Red Cross Society has concluded an on-the-ground assessment of communities severely affected by recent flooding in parts of Sokoto State.

The rapid assessment followed distress reports from Gada Local Government Area, where torrential rains caused widespread damage to homes, farmlands, and critical public infrastructure in several communities, including Gada, Tsitse, and Gilbade.

According to local ward representatives—Kabiru Usman (Gada), Sahabi Abdullahi (Tsitse), and Ahmed Tambari (Gilbade), the joint mission aims to guide both state and federal authorities in coordinating timely relief interventions and long-term recovery strategies.

Led by Sokoto SEMA officials, the team documented extensive losses, including the displacement of thousands and the submergence of agricultural lands at the peak of the harvest season. Preliminary data indicate that at least 2,814 residents were directly impacted by the floods, with hundreds of hectares of farmland rendered unusable.

Tragically, the flooding claimed the lives of two children and one elderly person, while 11 others sustained injuries. The destruction extended to key infrastructure, including a community mosque in Dantudu Bobawa and several public schools among them Damarki Primary School, Tunga Primary School, and Musuki Primary School which suffered structural damage.

Emergency agencies say the findings will form the basis for a coordinated response effort, including the distribution of relief materials and the design of climate-resilient infrastructure in flood-prone areas.

The Sokoto State Government is expected to announce its next steps in the coming days, as humanitarian organizations and development partners prepare to scale up support for affected communities.

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The deployment, approved by NEMA Director General Zubaida Umar, follows a recent assessment that identified critical operational gaps in some regional offices. According to a statement released by the agency’s Press Unit on Tuesday, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen disaster response infrastructure at the sub-national level.

“As climate-related emergencies, particularly flooding, become more frequent and severe, it is imperative that our emergency teams are fully equipped to deliver rapid, life-saving interventions,” Mrs. Umar stated.

Each MICU ambulance comes fitted with advanced life-support equipment, including oxygen delivery systems, patient monitoring technology, suction kits, and other critical tools designed to stabilise patients en route to medical facilities. The deployment was guided by detailed vulnerability analyses and logistical planning.

NEMA emphasised that this effort forms part of its wider commitment to building a resilient disaster management framework across the country.

With meteorological forecasts warning of potentially severe flooding in multiple states, the agency is accelerating its preparedness measures ranging from the upgrade of response infrastructure to community engagement programs and simulation drills.

The agency reiterated its commitment to working collaboratively with local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure timely and effective responses to emergencies, thereby safeguarding lives and livelihoods amid growing climate threats.

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