Lagos State Government Assures Residents of Safety, Attributes Flooding to Topography and Climate Change
A heavy downpour in Lagos on Wednesday, July 3, has resulted in widespread flooding across the city, disrupting daily life and displacing residents.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has called for calm, reassuring residents that the “flash flood” will recede with time.
According to the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency and other key responders are on high alert and working to ensure residents’ safety.
He attributed the flooding to the state’s topography and climate change, warning against indiscriminate waste disposal and construction along water channels, which exacerbate flooding.
Several parts of the city were submerged, including major roads, houses, and businesses, leaving passengers stranded and motorists marooned.
The flooding was particularly severe in areas such as Ago Palace Way, Lagos Mainland, and Bucknor in the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), where streets and compounds were inundated, and vehicles struggled to navigate the flooded roads.
Residents described the flooding as unprecedented, with one resident stating that the flood had never reached inside Prince Chima Street in all his years living in the area.
The overflowing canal and failing sewage systems were identified as contributing factors to the widespread inundation.
The Lagos State Government has urged residents to remain calm and avoid non-essential travel, assuring them that the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources is working to ensure their safety.
