Lagosians slam govt as heavy rains wreak havoc

Heavy rainfall that swept across Lagos over the weekend has triggered widespread outrage, with many residents criticising the Lagos State Government over recurring flooding that submerged major roads, stranded motorists, disrupted commercial activities and left homes underwater across the metropolis.

The downpour, which lasted for several hours on Sunday, flooded major roads in Gbagada, Iyana Ipaja, Ikorodu Road, Ikeja, Maryland, Mushin, Ogudu, Lekki, Oshodi, Agege, Alimosho and Obalende, forcing many commuters to trek long distances after commercial transport operators suspended services due to rising floodwaters.

Several motorists were also seen abandoning their vehicles after they broke down while attempting to navigate flooded roads.

The flooding extended to sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and Lekki-Epe Expressway, worsening traffic congestion across the state.

Videos circulating on X, TikTok and other social media platforms showed roads submerged in floodwater, stranded vehicles, flooded residential estates and residents wading through knee-deep water.

One viral video showed a young woman lamenting that her apartment, for which she claimed to pay ₦10 million annual 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 posted by X user #dammiedammie showed residents in parts of Lekki using boats as a means of transportation, with schoolchildren reportedly ferried through flooded streets.

Criticism from several Nigerians on social media

X user #Morris_Monye, Morris Monye, expressed shock over the flooding in Gbagada, saying he had never witnessed such a situation despite growing up in the area.

“I’ve never ever seen Gbagada flooded in my life. And I was born and raised there. This is shocking,” he wrote.

Nollywood actress Cossy Orjiakor also shared videos showing floodwater around her residence, lamenting that she spent the night battling mosquitoes.

“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, while calling on the Lagos State Government to address the flooding.

Former presidential aide #DemolaRewaju, Demola Olarewaju, blamed years of land reclamation and urban development for the worsening flooding.

“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 wrote.

Another X user, #Sammediaplc, attributed the situation to poor waste management.

“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 criticised recent attempts to compare flooding in Lagos with 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 wrote.

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Another resident, #DavidLinus18, criticised 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, identified as Mayor of Boki (GCFR), accused the commissioner of failing to improve the state’s flood management despite previous experiences.

“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 wrote.

X user #Ifeanyiobidient, who posts as Light Vendor, argued that Lagos deserved 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, adding that future administrations should prioritise drainage infrastructure, waste management and urban planning.

Others linked the flooding to environmental changes

User #TigersGlory alleged that sand-filling of beaches across Lagos had worsened flooding.

“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 claimed.

Responding to the criticisms on X, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab described Sunday’s incident as a flash flood caused by hours of intense rainfall, insisting that water levels had already receded in many affected locations.

“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 wrote in response to an X user.

Not everyone blamed the government

X user #SirALYCEE, Grenshaw Kepler, argued 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 the flooding was a hydrological challenge compounded by 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, recommending the restoration of wetlands, construction of retention ponds, sustainable drainage systems, expansion of drainage channels, improved waste management and stricter enforcement 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 once again reignited conversations around drainage infrastructure, waste disposal, urban planning and climate resilience in Nigeria’s commercial capital as residents call for lasting solutions ahead of the peak of the rainy season.