A severe downpour on June 28 submerged critical infrastructure, closed commercial hubs, and briefly paralyzed activities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport international terminal, creating widespread anxiety over impending Lagos flood risks. The torrential weekend rainfall severely affected notable areas including Oshodi, Mushin, Surulere, Egbeda’s Akowonjo Road, Gbagada Expressway, and Idi-Oro. This incident struck just as regulatory bodies issued warnings regarding the peak flood season expected between July and September.

At the airport, rising waters forced the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to shut down operations at its temporary international facility when water reached the main powerhouse. Consequently, officials disconnected power grid access for safety, redirecting major international carriers such as Air France-KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, and Fly Gabon to Terminal Two. Meanwhile, urban areas like Gbagada, Ipaja, and Surulere witnessed knee-deep floods that trapped residents and halted daily commuting.

Videos circulating on social platforms depicted vehicles nearly submerged up to window levels, and commuters in Oshodi desperately seeking safety as portions of the public transit hub overflowed. The intense rainfall also breached domestic thresholds, leaving the lower levels of several residential buildings completely underwater. Although the water receded by Monday morning to allow business activities to slowly restart, traders and inhabitants lamented that the crisis highlights the state’s persistent exposure to environmental hazards despite public safety pledges.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) collectively designated the July-to-September window as the period of ultimate vulnerability. According to NiMet’s 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction, a weak La Niña followed by a neutral ENSO phase has triggered predictions of an elongated rainy season with a delayed end. Projections show extreme annual precipitation reaching up to 2,010mm in Badagry and averaging 1,965mm across all 20 local government areas. Furthermore, NIHSA’s 2026 Annual Flood Outlook listed Lagos among 33 high-risk states, stating that a combination of rapid urbanization and overstretched drainage systems aggravates coastal and flash flood events.

To mitigate future occurrences, NEMA’s territorial arm flagged specific zones like Alimosho, Ikeja, and Epe as flash points, warning that Ikorodu and Isheri could face surges from the Oyan Dam. In response, Mahmood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary for the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, affirmed that flood mitigation is the administration’s primary directive. Adegbite revealed that a new flood insurance policy has been introduced via the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency to assist victims, while structural long-term projects—such as the 36-month System 1 drainage channel—are entering their initial phases of execution.

Reflecting on immediate causes, government officials noted that over a week of continuous rain had already fully saturated the soil and raised lagoon levels, thereby overwhelming existing networks. In reaction, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu greenlit emergency maintenance across major canals. Recent inspections also uncovered unauthorized real estate expansions on natural wetlands and waterways, prompting immediate demolition exercises. Additionally, the Ministry of Environment is contemplating future mandates requiring residential properties to allocate 40 percent of their plots to green spaces to enhance natural ground absorption.

While Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab urged the public to stay calm—characterizing the weekend crisis as transient flash flooding exacerbated by coastal topography—he admonished residents to stop dumping refuse in public drains. Having recently published an exhaustive list of endangered zones including Lekki, Apapa, and Lagos Island, authorities warn that the upcoming months represent the most challenging period of the year for communities situated near low-lying riverbanks.

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As relentless rains continue to batter large swathes of the country, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) has issued a stark warning: heavy flooding is projected to hit 198 local government areas across 31 states and the Federal Capital Territory between August 7 and 21, 2025.

The alert comes just 24 hours after the Federal Ministry of Environment’s National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre cautioned residents in 19 states to brace for potentially life-threatening inundations.

In its latest bulletin, NiHSA categorised the risk levels based on rainfall intensity and local topography. States on the watchlist include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, the FCT, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.

More than 832 communities have been identified as vulnerable, with over 100 key transportation routes at risk of disruption. Low-lying settlements, NiHSA warned, face the greatest threat of displacement.

“We urge residents to remain vigilant, comply with early warning advisories, and cooperate with emergency agencies,”

— Umar Mohammed, Director-General, NiHSA

Mohammed called on state and local authorities to deploy proactive measures, assuring that NiHSA would continue to monitor developments and provide real-time updates through official channels and State Emergency Management Agencies.

In Lagos, the state government has expressed sympathy to Ikorodu residents reeling from Monday’s marathon downpour, which submerged parts of the metropolis and caused widespread property damage.

Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, said the scale of rainfall was “a once-in-decades event” and reiterated the administration’s commitment to completing critical drainage infrastructure to mitigate recurring floods.

“Climate change is real. We are fast-tracking construction projects to reduce the pain and address the root causes of flooding in Ikorodu,” Rotimi-Akodu said during an on-site inspection.

He urged residents to avoid dumping waste into drains and encroaching on road rights-of-way, warning that human-induced blockages exacerbate flooding risks.

Commissioner for Special Duties, Gbenga Oyerinde, noted that a preliminary damage assessment was underway to inform humanitarian interventions. Inspection teams visited several sites, including Gberigbe Road Outfall Channel, Palm Avenue Collector Drain, and communities in Ijede and Igbogbo.

Meanwhile, Labour Party’s 2023 Lagos governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, criticised the state government’s advice for flood-affected Ikorodu residents to vacate their homes.

In a statement by his aide, Adewole Ireti, Rhodes-Vivour described the directive as “a callous abdication of duty” and said government should prioritise emergency relief, not eviction orders.

“Development is not about bridges and flyovers alone; it is about people the woman who lost her shop, the children who slept on wet floors, the families with nowhere to go,” the statement read.

The Lagos State Catfish and Allied Farmers Association (LASCAFAN) has also reported catastrophic losses exceeding ₦150 million following the floods.

Vice President Olatoye Fajimi said over 50 farms in Ikorodu were affected, with thousands of fish swept away overnight by torrents.

“It has been a tale of woes. Farms that had never flooded before were overrun this time. By the time farmers arrived in the morning, most of their stock had been washed into gutters and canals,” Fajimi lamented.

The association is appealing for urgent government intervention to salvage what remains of the sector.

With hundreds of communities on high alert and climate extremes intensifying, Nigeria’s flood preparedness will face a critical test in the coming fortnight.

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The warning was delivered by Engr. John Gbadegesin, the Deputy Director of Engineering Hydrology at NIHSA, during the Annual Stakeholders Flood Sensitization and Awareness event hosted by North-South Power Company Limited at the Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Station in Minna, Niger State.

“According to our forecast, communities along the banks of the Niger and Kaduna rivers in Niger State are likely to experience flooding this year,” Gbadegesin stated. He emphasized that while the exact severity of the flooding is still unknown, NIHSA will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves and will issue warnings whenever imminent flooding is detected.

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Residents are already expressing concern over the recurring floods. Alhaji Shehu Abdullahi, a farmer from Kuchi in Munya Local Government Area (LGA), highlighted the devastating impact floods have had on his community this year, destroying vast hectares of crops such as maize, groundnut, rice, and yam, valued at millions of naira. Despite government agencies assessing the damages, the community has not received any relief support.

READ ALSO: Residents of Trademore Estate Lugbe Speak On The Flooding Incidence

Farmers from Shiroro LGA have also voiced their frustrations, citing a continuous struggle with flood disasters, which they say have intensified since the construction of the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Dam. They are calling on the federal government to intervene and help mitigate the impact on their communities.

Engr. Olubunmi Peters, the Executive Vice-chairman and CEO of North-South Power Company Limited, also addressed the issue during the event, reinforcing the need for coordinated efforts to manage the flood risks.

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