Lagos floods submerge homes, disrupt power supply as residents call for urgent drainage reforms

Widespread flooding triggered by heavy rainfall has submerged homes, disrupted electricity supply, and crippled movement across several parts of Lagos, with residents renewing calls for improved drainage infrastructure and stricter environmental enforcement.

The flooding, which followed hours of intense rainfall, affected several communities, leaving roads impassable, damaging property, and forcing many residents to wade through floodwaters. Some areas also experienced power outages after floodwaters affected electricity infrastructure, worsening the hardship faced by residents.

Residents blamed the recurring floods on blocked drainage channels, unchecked construction on waterways, and indiscriminate waste disposal.

“Years ago, the flooding was not this severe because water flowed freely. Today, many canals have been blocked by buildings and factories, while refuse dumped into the drains has made the situation worse,” a resident said, reflecting concerns shared by many affected communities.

Businesses were also disrupted as floodwaters inundated shops and residential buildings, while motorists struggled to navigate submerged roads. In some locations, commuters abandoned their vehicles and sought alternative routes to reach their destinations.

Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Government said the flooding resulted from an extreme weather event that temporarily overwhelmed the state’s drainage system. Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, explained that Lagos’ coastal geography and periods of high tide often slow the discharge of stormwater into the lagoon, leading to temporary flooding after heavy rainfall.

The commissioner said the state had intensified drainage maintenance and flood-control measures, including the approval of additional drainage channel dredging projects, but urged residents to stop dumping refuse into drainage channels and to avoid illegal developments on wetlands and designated drainage alignments.

Environmental experts have long warned that rapid urbanisation, poor waste management, and encroachment on natural waterways continue to increase Lagos’ vulnerability to flooding during the rainy season.

Residents are now urging authorities to accelerate drainage expansion projects, enforce building regulations, and strengthen flood mitigation measures to prevent the annual destruction of homes, businesses, and public infrastructure.