NEMA urges Lagos residents to take precautions as 2026 flood outlook flags high risk

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised residents of Lagos State to adopt proactive safety measures to reduce the risk of flooding as the rainy season intensifies.

The Head of Lagos Operations at NEMA, Mr. Mohammed Olatunde, gave the advice in a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos, stressing the need for early preparedness to minimise potential loss of lives and property.

Olatunde said the warning aligns with the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook released by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), which listed Lagos among states at high risk of flooding this year.

According to him, the outlook identified thousands of vulnerable communities nationwide and urged federal, state, and local authorities, as well as residents, to begin early mitigation efforts.

“The outlook identified thousands of communities nationwide as vulnerable and urged early preparedness to reduce losses,” he said.

The NEMA official stressed that proactive disaster risk reduction remains critical in preventing the devastating consequences often associated with flooding, including displacement, infrastructure damage, and economic disruption during the peak rainy months.

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He attributed the recurring flooding in Lagos largely to human activities such as blocked drainage systems, indiscriminate waste disposal, and construction on natural waterways that obstruct the free flow of stormwater.

Olatunde advised residents to regularly clear gutters and drainage channels around their homes and desist from dumping refuse in canals and water pathways. He also called on those living in flood-prone communities to consider temporary relocation to safer areas during periods of heavy rainfall.

Community leaders, he said, have a vital role to play in raising awareness and enforcing environmental compliance within their neighbourhoods to prevent avoidable disasters.

In addition, he urged households to develop emergency response plans, safeguard important documents and valuable assets, and remain updated through weather forecasts and early warning alerts issued by relevant agencies.

Motorists and pedestrians were cautioned against attempting to move through flooded roads, noting that submerged surfaces may conceal open drains or structural hazards that pose serious threats to life and property.

Olatunde appealed to residents to take advisories from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and NiHSA seriously in order to minimise the impact of anticipated floods.

“Prevention is far cheaper and better than cure,” he added.

Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria reports that Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the launch of a flood insurance cover for Lagos in March 2026, warned that failure to address climate change and flooding risks could cost the state government an estimated $40 billion by 2050.

The renewed warning underscores growing concerns over climate-related threats in Nigeria’s commercial capital and the urgent need for coordinated action among government agencies and residents alike.