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Lagos’ flood hotspots face growing peril as experts warn worse disaster lies ahead – EnviroNews
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As heavy rains continue to batter Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, environmental experts have issued a stark warning that some of the state’s most flood-prone communities could soon experience disasters far worse than those witnessed in recent years unless urgent action is taken to reverse decades of environmental degradation.
The warning comes amid recurring flash floods that have repeatedly submerged roads, homes and businesses across several parts of Lagos, particularly low-lying communities where poor drainage, wetland reclamation and rapid urban development have significantly increased vulnerability.
Among the communities considered most at risk are Lekki (Ajiran, Ologolo, Orchid Road and Sangotedo), Ikoyi, Obalende, Mushin, Surulere, Ajegunle, Gbagada, Isheri, Ikorodu and several densely populated mainland neighbourhoods that have consistently recorded severe flooding during periods of intense rainfall.
Across neighbouring Ogun State, experts also identified Isheri, Akute, Warewa, Alagbole, Sango-Ota, Ijoko, Kuto, Sokori and Lafenwa as areas facing increasing flood risks because of their proximity to rivers, lagoons and expanding urban settlements.
Environmental stakeholders warn that unless governments at all levels halt the destruction of wetlands and strengthen flood management systems, these communities could become the epicentres of a humanitarian crisis driven by climate change.
“We Haven’t Seen Anything Yet”
Founder of LUFASI Nature Park, Desmond Majekodunmi, described the current flooding as only a glimpse of what lies ahead.
“We haven’t seen anything yet. Despite the flooding that we’re seeing, which is pretty bad, far more is coming, especially this year and next year,” he warned.
According to Majekodunmi, global weather systems are entering another severe El Niño phase, a naturally occurring climate pattern that is now being amplified by human-induced global warming.
He explained that rising global temperatures increase evaporation, producing heavier rainfall capable of overwhelming urban drainage systems within a short period.
“When this El Niño joins up with what we human beings have created through global warming, then you have what they call a rain bomb—a severe amount of rain falling in one location within a very short time.”
For Lagos, he said, the implications are particularly alarming.
The state’s low elevation, coastal location and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and Lagos Lagoon already make it naturally susceptible to flooding. When exceptionally heavy rainfall coincides with high tides, communities with inadequate drainage become extremely vulnerable to destructive flash floods.
Lekki, Ikoyi, Mushin, Ajegunle Among Most Vulnerable
Experts believe that many of Lagos’ rapidly expanding communities now face greater flood threats because natural drainage pathways have been replaced with residential estates, commercial developments and road infrastructure.
Neighbourhoods across the Lekki Peninsula – including Ajiran, Ologolo, Orchid Road and Sangotedo – have experienced repeated flooding in recent years as urban development continues to replace wetlands that once absorbed excess rainwater.
On Lagos Island, low-lying districts such as Obalende and parts of Ikoyi remain vulnerable whenever intense rainfall combines with tidal surges.
On the mainland, Mushin, Surulere, Ajegunle, Gbagada, Isheri and Ikorodu have similarly recorded persistent flooding due to blocked drainage systems, rapid urbanization and inadequate stormwater management.
Residents in many of these communities frequently contend with submerged roads, damaged homes, disrupted transportation, loss of livelihoods and public health concerns whenever heavy rainfall persists.
Wetlands Destroyed in the Name of Development
A central concern raised by both experts is the widespread destruction of wetlands across Lagos.
Majekodunmi described wetlands and mangrove forests as nature’s most effective flood control infrastructure.
“A mangrove is nature’s way of evacuating water in a calm, harmonious manner. But we’re sand-filling the mangroves massively and calling it development. How can you call it development when you’re destroying nature’s capability to do the work it has been doing for centuries?”
He warned that replacing wetlands with housing estates, shopping complexes and commercial developments removes the natural spaces that absorb and gradually release floodwater, leaving surrounding communities increasingly exposed.
Director in the Lagos State Department of Forestry, Adewunmi Ade-Adeyemi, shared similar concerns.
According to him, both government agencies and private developers have continued to build on natural water channels that historically served as flood buffers.
“Lagosians are the problem of themselves. We enter into the natural collectors of water – the wetlands – and build structures there. When the rain comes, there is nowhere for the excess water to go.”
He noted that while flash flooding has always been a natural occurrence in Lagos because the city is surrounded by water, today’s persistent flooding is largely a consequence of human activities.
“Flash flooding will always happen in Lagos because it is naturally surrounded by water. But what we are experiencing now is persistent flooding because the natural collectors of water have been taken over by structures.”
Climate Change Making Floods More Dangerous
Both experts stressed that climate change is significantly increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events around the world.
Ade-Adeyemi said the flooding experienced recently in Ghana’s capital, Accra, reflects a broader global trend linked to changing weather patterns.
“The problem in Accra is also in New Jersey; it is everywhere. It is a general problem caused by climate change. But we are contributing more to the problem by not doing the right things.”
Majekodunmi warned that Lagos may be even more vulnerable than Accra because of its lower elevation, larger population and greater pressure on natural ecosystems.
“We should be very worried. Accra is slightly higher than Lagos in elevation. Lagos has a much larger population and much more pressure on the natural systems.”
Blocked Drains and Poor Waste Disposal Worsening Crisis
Apart from climate change, indiscriminate waste disposal continues to worsen flooding across Lagos.
Majekodunmi lamented that refuse dumped on roads and streets eventually finds its way into drainage channels, obstructing the free flow of water.
“So much of our waste is thrown onto the streets, and it ends up blocking the drains. We ourselves must be responsible and tell our neighbours not to throw nylon or waste into the streets because it could be responsible for a flood that kills someone.”
Ade-Adeyemi also identified poor waste management as one of the leading contributors to flooding.
“Indiscriminate disposal of waste is another major problem. We should immediately stop it.”
According to him, changing public attitudes toward sanitation is just as important as government investments in drainage infrastructure.
Ogun Border Communities Also at Risk
Experts noted that flood risks are no longer confined to Lagos.
Several communities in neighbouring Ogun State – including Isheri, Akute, Warewa, Alagbole, Sango-Ota and Ijoko – continue to experience severe flooding because of their location along the Lagos Lagoon and Ogun-Osun river systems.
Urban centres within Abeokuta, particularly Kuto, Sokori and Lafenwa, have also witnessed recurring floods during periods of sustained rainfall.
Environmental experts say continued urban expansion without adequate drainage planning could further increase flood risks across these communities.
Experts Call for Immediate Action
While acknowledging ongoing drainage clearing efforts by Lagos authorities, Majekodunmi urged government agencies to intensify maintenance exercises and prepare for emergency situations.
“Clean up, clean up, clean up. Massive removal of everything blocking the drains is absolutely necessary.”
He also called for comprehensive flood response plans involving the military, emergency management agencies and local authorities to ensure rapid evacuation of vulnerable communities when severe flooding occurs.
Ade-Adeyemi identified tree planting as one of the most effective long-term measures for reducing flooding.
“Trees naturally hold the soil together and reduce surface runoff. Planting trees is one long-term solution, but the trees we already have should not be cut down.”
He urged governments to stop approving developments on wetlands while encouraging Nigerians to embrace environmental responsibility by protecting existing forests, planting more trees and disposing of waste properly.
“We should stop indiscriminate waste disposal, stop building on wetlands, stop issuing licences for developments on wetlands, stop cutting existing trees and begin planting more.”
A Race Against Time
As meteorologists continue to forecast increasingly extreme rainfall associated with climate change, environmental experts believe Lagos still has an opportunity to reduce future flood disasters – but only through decisive action.
They insist that protecting wetlands, preserving forests, strengthening drainage systems, enforcing environmental regulations, improving waste management and developing robust emergency response mechanisms are no longer optional but essential for safeguarding lives and property.
For thousands of residents living in flood-prone communities stretching from Lekki and Ikoyi to Mushin, Ajegunle, Isheri, Ikorodu and neighbouring Ogun border towns, the warning is clear: unless urgent intervention begins now, today’s seasonal flooding could evolve into a far more destructive humanitarian and economic crisis in the years ahead.
By Ajibola Adedoye
