Lagos Residents Angered by Heavy Rains and Flooding

Heavy rains that hit Lagos over the weekend have sparked anger among residents. Many are blaming the Lagos State Government for ongoing flooding that submerged major roads, trapped drivers, disrupted businesses and left homes underwater in many areas.

The rain fell for several hours on Sunday, causing floods in major areas like Gbagada, Iyana Ipaja, Ikorodu Road, Ikeja, Maryland, Mushin, Ogudu, Lekki, Oshodi, Agege, Alimosho and Obalende. Many commuters had to walk long distances after commercial transport services stopped due to rising flood levels.

Some drivers abandoned their cars after they broke down while trying to get through flooded roads.

The flooding also affected parts of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and Lekki-Epe Expressway, making traffic worse all over the state.

Videos shared on X, TikTok and other social media platforms showed roads covered in floodwater, stranded cars, flooded homes and people wading through water up to their knees.

One viral video featured a young woman upset that her apartment, where she claims to pay ₦10 million a year in rent, was surrounded by floodwater. “Look outside my apartment where I’m paying ₦10 million in rent. Everywhere is flooded,” she said.

Another viral clip from X user #dammiedammie showed people in parts of Lekki using boats to get around, with schoolchildren reportedly being carried through flooded streets.

X user #Morris_Monye, who is from Gbagada, expressed surprise at the flooding. He said, “I’ve never ever seen Gbagada flooded in my life. And I was born and raised there. This is shocking.”

Nollywood actress Cossy Orjiakor also shared videos of the flooding around her home. She complained about battling mosquitoes all night. “It looks like a place where a crocodile stays. I cried all night. Imagine I was not under mosquito net, mosquitoes would feed on my face. I kept clapping all night. It is super duper crazy,” she said, calling on the Lagos State Government to take action on the flooding.

Former presidential aide #DemolaRewaju, Demola Olarewaju, blamed the worsening flooding on years of land reclamation and urban development. “Sold so much land in Lagos then started sandfilling under the guise of flood control while building new luxury estates, now Lagos is with the worst floods ever in its history,” he said.

Another user, #Sammediaplc, pointed to poor waste management as a big part of the problem. “The current floods ravaging Lagos are heartbreaking and entirely avoidable. Heavy rains in Lagos turn streets into rivers, trapping vehicles, flooding homes and bringing the city to a standstill. Why? Because mountains of refuse,” the user posted.

Similarly, #Imbuya_media criticized the government for comparing Lagos flooding to that of developed countries. “And to think that only some days ago, some government apologists were circulating videos of a flood situation in Japan to justify the squalid state of affairs in Lagos. But God, the father of truth, has a way of exposing lies in the most timely way,” the user said.

Another resident, #DavidLinus18, slammed the state’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources. “Tokunbo Wahab, can you just shut up and admit you and your masters’ failure? Over 20 different videos of flooded areas in different locations in Lagos have been seen and you’re still saying it’s flash flood and agenda. Are you people immune to accountability?” he wrote.

Also reacting, #chrispoise2, known as Mayor of Boki (GCFR), accused the commissioner of not improving the state’s flood management. “So sorry, it’s unfortunate the person they waste your taxes on as salary, #tokunbo_wahab, who is supposed to have improved from last year’s flood disaster, always dismisses it as flash flood,” he said.

X user #Ifeanyiobidient, who posts as Light Vendor, said Lagos needs better infrastructure. “Lagos deserves better than flooded streets and mountains of refuse. Every rainy season, families lose property, businesses shut down and commuters spend hours trapped because our drainage systems have been neglected for too long,” the user wrote. He suggested that future governments should focus on drainage systems, waste management and urban planning.

User #TigersGlory claimed that sand-filling beaches in Lagos has made flooding worse. “Another major reason why the case of flood in Lagos is rising. I’ve watched Lagos State Government sand-fill over six beaches in the last four years… The ocean will fight back,” the user said.

In response to the criticisms on X, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, called Sunday’s flooding a flash flood caused by heavy rain. He insisted that water levels had already gone down in many affected areas. “Yesterday’s flooding was largely a flash flood triggered by several hours of intense rainfall. As is typical with flash floods, water levels have since receded in many affected areas.

“However, we are aware that some individuals are attempting to exploit the situation to advance a particular agenda. Our priority remains the safety and well-being of Lagosians. We will continue to monitor vulnerable locations, respond promptly where necessary, and implement measures aimed at protecting lives and property while improving the state’s flood resilience,” Wahab said in response to an X user.

X user #SirALYCEE, Grenshaw Kepler, added that climate change and rising sea levels should also be considered. “Well in science and engineering, people agree to disagree… Lagos is not the only place experiencing higher level of flood. Perhaps you don’t understand the concept of global warming and sea levels,” he wrote.

Similarly, #lehtyu said that flooding is a problem linked to urban planning failures. “Lagos flooding isn’t caused by rainfall alone; it is the result of faster surface runoff than the city can safely convey or store,” the user wrote. They recommended restoring wetlands, building retention ponds, improving drainage systems, and stricter rules against developments on floodplains.

The user concluded, “Flooding is a hydrological problem, but in Lagos it is largely a planning and governance problem. We can’t pave over nature’s drainage system and expect concrete drains alone to replace it.”

The latest flooding has reopened discussions about drainage, waste disposal, urban planning and climate issues in Nigeria’s commercial hub. Residents are calling for lasting solutions as the rainy season peak approaches.