Sanwo-Olu visits Lagos communities hit by floods, assures residents of support

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu visited communities hit hard by recent floods in Eti-Osa Local Government Area on Wednesday. Residents are calling for quick and lasting solutions to this ongoing problem.

The governor was with Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab, and other Lagos State officials. They checked out areas like Ogombo, Monastery Road-Sangotedo, Gbetu, Iwerekun, and others affected in the Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area.

Videos shared by the Lagos State Government and other sources showed Mr Sanwo-Olu and his team walking through knee-deep floodwaters. They inspected flooded roads, drainage channels, and homes while talking to residents and community leaders.

This visit came after several days of heavy rain that flooded many parts of Lagos. Roads were underwater, businesses stalled, and some residents had to use canoes to cross flooded streets.

Residents who spoke with government officials during the visit asked for immediate help and long-term flood control projects. They said repeated flooding has damaged homes and businesses, forced families to leave their houses, and made it hard to move around their communities.

The governor’s visit is timely as Lagos faces another rainy season with serious flooding. Earlier this year, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) listed Lagos as one of the states at high risk of flooding in its 2026 Annual Flood Outlook. They warned that heavy rain, flash floods, and coastal flooding could hit vulnerable communities during peak rainy season.

The inspection was also part of recent efforts by the state government to tackle flooding. Last month, Governor Sanwo-Olu approved the dredging and maintenance of 28 primary drainage channels after flash floods affected many areas in the state.

Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, explained that the recent downpours brought an unusually high volume of water that overwhelmed drainage systems in many places.

"The rainfalls were extreme and produced an unusually high volume of water in a short time, which flooded some areas and caused temporary issues across parts of Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikeja, Gbagada, Mushin, Mafoluku, and several other places," Mr Wahab said.

He added that this weather event was not just a Lagos problem. Several African countries and parts of North America faced similar heavy rainfall around the same time.

Mr Wahab also mentioned that previous interventions in flood-prone areas like Ajiran and Agungi in the Eti-Osa area have helped stormwater flow better after blocked drainage channels were cleared and natural waterways restored.

Even with those efforts, flooding is still a big issue in many parts of Lagos. Experts say the problem comes from rapid urban growth, poor drainage systems, dumping waste in waterways, building on wetlands, and more extreme weather due to climate change.

The Lagos State Government has often urged residents not to dump waste into drainage systems. They warned that blocked drains make flooding worse during heavy rains.

For many residents in the affected areas, the main focus is recovering from the recent floods. As floodwaters continue to disrupt life, many hope the governor’s visit leads to real actions that will help prevent future flooding instead of another cycle of destruction when the rains come again.