The Lagos State Government has directed residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to move to higher ground following a fresh seven-day flood alert issued by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency.
The government said the directive was aimed at preventing the loss of lives and property.
Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by Kunle Adeshina, the ministry’s Director of Public Affairs.
The state government said the advisory, issued over the weekend, covers Lagos and 14 other states. Areas identified as vulnerable in Lagos include Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Oke-Ira Nla in Ajah, Kirikiri, Ilaje Waterfront Jetty and Jetty Terminal B.
Wahab said the government was taking the NiHSA flood advisory seriously and had stepped up monitoring in the identified locations, as well as other riverine, low-lying and flood-prone communities.
He advised residents not to wait for floodwaters to rise before taking precautionary measures, stressing that early preparation and temporary relocation could help prevent loss of lives and property.
“We are urging Lagosians, particularly those living in flood-prone and low-lying areas, not to take this warning lightly. When the signs point to danger, the safest decision is to move early. No property is worth risking a life,” Wahab stated.
The commissioner advised residents in flood-prone areas to relocate to higher ground and remain there until the peak of the renewed rainy season had passed.
He also urged communities along the Ogun River and other major waterways to exercise greater caution, noting that increased rainfall and rising water levels in connected river systems could affect downstream communities in Lagos.
Wahab identified Isheri North, Kara, Itowolo, Ajegunle, Majidun, Ogolonto, parts of Agboyi and other settlements downstream of Isheri Olofin as areas that should remain on high alert between September 19 and 25.
Residents living close to rivers, lagoons, wetlands, drainage channels and other water bodies were also advised to monitor official flood forecasts and prepare for temporary relocation if flooding becomes imminent.
According to Wahab, the NiHSA report warned that rising river levels could lead to flooding in vulnerable communities and affect critical facilities such as schools, healthcare centres, markets, farms and places of worship.
The commissioner called on affected local governments, emergency management agencies, community leaders and residents to activate early-warning and response measures.
He urged them to relocate people, livestock and valuable belongings to safer locations where necessary.
Wahab said the state government would continue monitoring river levels, rainfall patterns and other hydrological developments in collaboration with relevant federal agencies.
He added that regular cleaning, maintenance and monitoring of drainage infrastructure across Lagos would also continue.
The commissioner appealed to residents to support the government’s flood mitigation efforts by avoiding the disposal of refuse in drains, canals and waterways, warning that blocked drainage channels could worsen flooding and slow the recession of floodwaters.
He also advised residents against walking or driving through flooded roads, bridges and fast-moving water. Those in vulnerable locations were encouraged to make arrangements for temporary relocation whenever official warnings indicated an imminent threat.
Wahab stressed that protecting lives and property remained the government’s foremost priority and urged residents to treat flood forecasts as critical safety information requiring immediate action.
He assured Lagos residents that the government would continue implementing measures to reduce flood risks and provide timely updates as the situation develops.
PUNCH Online reported on Monday that more than 8,000 communities and 4,500 schools across 15 states were at risk of flooding between September 19 and 25, according to the latest National Flood Advisory issued by the NHSA.
The agency warned that rising river levels could trigger flooding in vulnerable communities, potentially affecting schools, healthcare facilities, markets, religious buildings and farmlands.
The agency identified Imo, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Enugu, Bayelsa, Kogi, Abia, Taraba, Rivers and Lagos among the states most likely to be affected.