Lagos Orders Evacuation of Flood-Prone Communities Amid NHSA Alert
The Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate evacuation of residents living in low-lying and flood-prone communities to prevent loss of life and damage to property.
The move is in response to the latest seven-day floor alert issued by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency, reinforced by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMET, weather forecast.
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, TOKUNBO WAHAB, identified the vulnerable areas prone to flooding to include Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Ajah, Kirikiri, Ilaje Waterfront Jetty, and Jetty Terminal B, among others, "along the Ogun River and other waterways are advised to remain on high alert from September 19 to 25. Especially low-lying areas and riverbank communities, including Isheri North, Kara, Itowolo, Ajegunle, Majidun, Ogolonto, parts of Agboyi, and other settlements downstream of Isheri Olofin, to remain on high alert during the period 19th to 25th September."
WAHAB noted that the state government was treating the advisory with utmost seriousness and has intensified monitoring activities across the identified locations, as well as other riverine, low-lying, and flood-prone communities.
He urged residents in vulnerable areas not to disregard the warning or wait until floodwaters rise before acting, stressing that early preparation and temporary relocation to safer areas could prevent avoidable tragedies.
"Residents in vulnerable locations should move to safer and higher ground whenever necessary and should not wait for floodwaters to rise before taking action. No property is worth risking a life.
"The Lagos State Government is intensifying monitoring of rainfall and river levels and will continue to work with relevant agencies to strengthen flood prevention and response measures.
"I also urge residents to keep drains and waterways free of refuse, avoid walking or driving through flooded areas, and rely only on official flood forecasts and advisories.
"Our priority remains the protection of lives and property. I encourage everyone to remain calm, vigilant and responsive to safety instructions as we continue to monitor the situation."
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, has urged Nigerians to brace up for thunderstorms and rainfall across several parts of the country over the next three days.
This was contained in NIMET’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, with warning of strong winds preceding thunderstorms in some areas, including Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has warned that more than eight thousand communities are at risk of flooding in the days leading up to Friday, September 25, 2026.
This is according to the NHSA’s latest National Flood Advisory, which also noted that about four thousand, five hundred schools across fifteen states are equally at risk of flooding during the period of the forecast.
The document released by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, UMAR MOHAMMED, listed the affected states as Imo, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Enugu, Bayelsa, Kogi, Abia, Taraba, Rivers and Lagos.
MOHAMMED said rising river levels were expected to trigger flooding in several communities, putting schools, healthcare facilities, markets, farms and religious buildings at risk.
He urged affected state governments to urgently relocate residents from vulnerable communities to safer locations, due to high riverine flood risk.