On July 4, 2024, a relentless downpour transformed streets into rivers, prompting reptiles to emerge and play in the floodwaters that inundated roads and invaded the opulent homes of the wealthy, forcing them to seek refuge in hotels.
The torrential rain persisted for over 10 hours, with the flooding intensifying into the evening. By the next day, videos circulating online showed furniture, TVs, mattresses, and children’s toys floating in the water, with residents wading through the murky depths to escape their homes.
One resident, Mrs. Shade, lamented the loss of her belongings in her rented two-bedroom apartment, for which she paid an annual rent of N3.5 million and an agent fee of N250,000 when she moved in October 2023.
“I haven’t even stayed up to one year in the house. I have lost everything. From my TV, to my new fridge, my furniture, my mattress and every valuable I have used more than 10 years of my life to build are all gone,” she said.
The struggles of Mrs. Shade and many others in the area have become a grim reality, as they battle the recurring nightmare of flooding in Lagos’ upscale neighborhoods.
This crisis has raised urgent questions about urban planning, infrastructure, and the responsibilities of both government and residents.
On Wednesday evening, our correspondent visited a popular estate in Lekki Phase II, where roads were impassable and homes were abandoned, their occupants forced to flee due to the uninhabitable conditions.
Residents waded through the floodwaters, trying to salvage their belongings amidst the destruction of properties worth millions, including cars, furniture, and electronics.
In one compound, three half-submerged cars seemed beyond repair, while a couple took refuge upstairs, warning of reptiles in the water.
The situation was chaotic, with the couple pleading with our correspondent to retreat, highlighting the desperation and fear that has gripped this once-peaceful community.
“Hey, go back. Snakes and alligators might be in the water. This morning, a young boy was beaten by a reptile. Please, go back,” she said.
As our correspondent retreated in fear, he carefully backed away, using his phone’s torch to light the way until he reached the higher ground at the start of the street. Environmental expert Mrs. Peace Tommy explained that the presence of reptiles, including snakes, is a common occurrence in flood-prone areas.
She noted that these reptiles seek refuge from the rising waters, posing an additional threat to the already distressed residents.
Fine architecture
Lagos’ Ikoyi, Lekki, and Ajah neighborhoods, dubbed “the Island,” are renowned for their opulence and luxury, symbolizing status and sophistication in popular culture. The areas boast impressive architecture, upscale homes, and secure estates.
However, the grandeur is short-lived, as heavy rainfall transforms the area into a flooded and damaged landscape, compromising the expensive properties.
According to Mr. Babashola Ogunshola, a local real estate expert, the minimum cost of a studio apartment in this prestigious area is N1.2 million, highlighting the exclusivity and extravagance of “the Island.”
“Even in the Ajah area which is not as developed as Lekki Phases I and II, you will not get a good home for anything less than N1m, including agent and caution fees,” he said.
Asked why, he simply stated, “It is Island life! If you won’t be able to pay, stay in the mainland.”
A grim recurrence
The recent flooding on Wednesday is not a singular event, but rather part of a persistent and troubling trend that has affected the affluent areas of Ikoyi, Lekki, and Ajah for years.
Despite the high property prices, with studio apartments commanding rents of up to N3.5 million or more, the frequency and severity of flooding have continued to increase.
The underlying causes of this ongoing issue are complex, involving both natural and human-made factors. Experts attribute the recurring flooding to the construction of buildings on floodplains and inadequate drainage systems.
In 2023, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, repeatedly warned residents against building on drainage setbacks, and several buildings constructed on these areas were demolished in October 2023.
Additionally, environmentalists and town planners note that many properties in these areas are built on reclaimed land, which is naturally susceptible to flooding.
Tommy, commenting on the topography, stated, “The drainage systems in these areas are often clogged with silt and debris, severely limiting their capacity to manage heavy rainfall. According to experts, around 75 per cent of the drainage capacity in some parts of Lagos is lost due to neglect and poor maintenance.”
The frustration
A resident in one of the homes in Lekki, Mrs Adebola Akinwunmi, recounting her ordeal, explained, “I woke up to find my living room submerged in water. Our home is a two-storey building. The bedrooms are upstairs and the living room is downstairs. I knew it was raining but I didn’t know it would breach my home’s defences and enter into my living room.
“As I speak to you, nothing in that living room is salvageable. Everything is gone. Outside, it was as if the flood wanted to carry our cars away. My husband did not know what to do. Our mechanic said he had so much work to do and could not come in the flood. I won’t even let him because I know there are several reptiles in the area.
“My children are still scared. We simply locked the building and found our way to a calm hotel without the chaos. We’ll be here till it all blows over and we’ll then see how we can save the mess. I am sure there is nothing we can do, but we’ll work something out,” she mentioned.
On how she got out, she stated, “My husband carried the children and I and crossed the flood. Very brave man! I was so scared for him. He had to climb onto furniture to stay dry. All our appliances are ruined, and the damage is beyond repair, but we thank God for life.”
Another occupants who is an executive of the Lekki Residents Association, who did not want to give his name, highlighted he is beyond devastated.
“I knew the floods were coming so I prepared myself since January. I called a mason who came and did some reconstruction on the fence. He also did some form of reinforcement, so that, come what may, the floods would not enter my home.
“All those were nothing. As the rains poured, it was as though I was outside. The water in my house is almost at knee level. I wanted to get my staff to bail it out but then, we don’t know how safe the connections are. It could lead to electrocution. It is a very sad and confusing situation, I must say,” the source stated.
In Ajah, the flooding was so severe that residents resorted to using canoes to navigate the waterlogged streets. Market stalls were deserted as traders rushed to salvage their merchandise from the encroaching floodwaters.
The deluge forced schools and businesses to shut down, while commuters were left stranded as main roads became inaccessible.
Warning from agencies
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency predicts that coastal states like Lagos will experience high rainfall in 2024, according to their Seasonal Climate Prediction released on February 20 in Abuja.
NiMet said, “In 2024, the annual rainfall amount is likely to range between 418 millimetres in the far northern states and over 3000 millimetres in the coastal states.
“The annual rainfall amount is predicted to be below normal over Yobe, Jigawa, Bauchi, Kano, Kebbi, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Delta, and Bayelsa states when compared to their long-term averages. However, other parts of the country are likely to observe normal to above-normal annual rainfall amounts.
“The prediction of the year 2024 indicates a normal to below normal rainfall activity across most parts of the country. Coastal cities and low-lying areas of Nigeria, Benue, Kogi, Rivers, Bayelsa and Anambra states are at higher risk of flooding. Several disasters can occur during the onset and cessation period of the rainy season due to violent storms associated with that period. Flash floods cannot be ruled out because of excessive rainfall expected in some areas.”
On May 3, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) released a video advisory listing flood-prone states, including Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Edo, Kaduna, Kebbi, Lagos, Kwara, Oyo, Taraba, and Sokoto.
Similarly, NEMA identified 233 local government areas in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory that were predicted to experience flooding in 2022 .
“Clear away solid waste that blocks drainages and waterways to mitigate flooding. Do not build on waterways. Do not walk through flood waters. Evacuate from flood-prone areas to safe higher grounds. Listen to weather forecasts and comply with safety instructions,” announced NEMA.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has urged residents to remain calm and exercise caution following recent flash floods in the state. In a statement, Permanent Secretary Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu advised citizens to limit outdoor activities and avoid non-essential travel.
The agency reported that seven people were rescued from a collapsed building in the Mushin area on June 3 due to heavy rainfall. Oke-Osanyintolu’s statement, made available on Wednesday, aimed to reassure the public and promote safety during the flooding.
He elaborated, “The Agency and other key responders are on high alert while urging the good people of Lagos to remain calm and refrain from any non-essential travels due to the incidence of flash floods across the State.
He elaborated that all emergency services are available to respond to distress calls and provide necessary assistance
The Lagos government has acknowledged that flash floods are unavoidable in the state, given its coastal location surrounded by water.
According to Kunle Adesina, Director of Public Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, measures are in place to mitigate the impact of flash floods and prevent loss of lives and property.
While acknowledging recent flash flood cases in some areas, Adesina assured that water levels typically return to normal within a few hours after heavy rainfall.
He said, “It was not about the response of the ministry to the recent flash floods. We have always put proactive measures in place for times like these. We have year-round programs and measures regarding drainage maintenance and construction. Lagos is a coastal city and one-third of Lagos is under water.
“We know that there is rainfall on a yearly basis and there are seasonal rainfall patterns released at the beginning of each year. This serves as a guide to all the states including us. We also have weather stations that we have created including a water level monitoring group. Lagos is at the receiving end of about seven rivers from different states. So, we are at the receiving end whenever rain falls.
“Lagos will have more than normal rainfall. That is why we had a major press briefing early this year to disclose what is likely to happen to us. We also sent an advisory, telling people who have houses in flood-prone areas to vacate their homes when heavy rain starts. They can stay with their relatives for the time being.
“What we experience in Lagos is flash floods and this happens when the magnitude of rain is so much on the Island which is discharged into the Lagoon, the water level of the Lagoon rises.
“So, you will have flash floods in some areas. But the truth is that two or three hours later, you will realise that the flash flood is gone, and everything returns back to normal.
“During the recent rainfall, we deployed our emergency responders to some areas like Olopomeji where the water paths had been blocked by refuse and were experiencing flash floods. After clearing the paths, we discovered that everything was back to normal some hours later.”
Adesina noted that while flash floods should not cause panic as it is manageable, residents could worsen the situation by constructing buildings or dumping refuse on water paths. This, he said, could block water flow and result in flooding.
He said, “People drop refuse on water paths, and it is because they don’t want to patronise waste collectors. These are the same people who wake up very early in the morning and drop their refuse on the road.
That is why the state waste management agency deploys its taskforce to go around, and they have been seeing people coming out at 12 midnight to dump refuse on the road. Many of them are elite. At the end of the day, the act will come back to hunt them and the whole environment.
‘Get a place before moving to Lagos’
“Thousands of people are coming into Lagos without considering where they want to live, the infrastructure they will depend on, and other factors. There is freedom of movement so we cannot prevent them from coming in. but these people do not have anywhere to live.
They build shacks and defecate on the road. People also build houses in flood-prone areas. These among other habits are endangering the people and the environment. People know what is right but don’t do it,” Adesina stated.
Speaking on the long-term measures by the ministry, the spokesperson highlighted, “Part of what the ministry is doing is the construction of infrastructure to aid water movement. Contracts have been awarded for the construction of new canals and the repair of already existing ones.
Since Lagos is a coastal city, there will be flash floods when there is torrential rainfall but we continue to ensure that necessary infrastructure is in place to allow the waters to pass.
“We also make sure that people are enlightened from time to time. What is safer is that they should not build houses on flood plains. Some people have decided to go and meet the water in its natural habitat. When you push water away from its habitat, the water will fight back when it rains.”
On January 31, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos State, announced that the government would begin removing illegal building extensions and attachments statewide on February 15.
The commissioner stated that this measure aims to restore order and address the prevalent issue of illegal conversions of residential buildings to commercial use, as well as the unauthorized addition of attachments to buildings .
“The state would not tolerate the spate of lawlessness witnessed in commercial centres such as Lagos Island, Ikeja, and Iyana-Ipaja, where shops are illegally extended with sheds and steel external stairways in a bid to attract customers,” he said
Commissioner Oluyinka warned individuals who built structures under power lines, canals, and pipelines to prepare for imminent enforcement action by the ministry within two weeks.
Similarly, Commissioner Wahab Tokunbo issued a 14-day ultimatum to property owners in Sangotedo, Lekki, Okota, and Isolo areas to vacate their buildings, as the government has identified these areas for drainage channel construction. Tokunbo issued this warning during an inspection of construction sites in the affected areas.
