Lagos Intensifies Demolition of Shanties Along Major Expressway, Warns of More Rains, Flash Floods
Environment
Lekki, Lagos – Following days of torrential rainfall that triggered widespread flooding across the megacity, the Lagos State Government has issued a fresh warning to residents to brace for more heavy downpours and possible flash floods in the coming weeks.
Officials are urging people in low-lying and flood-prone areas to relocate to safer locations while stepping up enforcement actions, including the demolition of illegal shanties and structures obstructing drainage and road medians.
Heavy rains that began on Sunday and intensified on Tuesday submerged major roads and residential neighborhoods, including parts of Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Maryland, Ikeja, Ikorodu, and Ajah, as commuters were stranded for hours, businesses disrupted, and many residents forced to bail water out of their homes.
The flooding persisted into Wednesday in several areas.
During an on-site inspection of ongoing demolition works along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway on Wednesday, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, explained the government’s dual approach of mitigation and enforcement.
The demolitions target illegal structures and commercial activities on the highway median, carried out on the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“Flash flooding is basically when the sea level is up. When it rains heavily, your stormwater cannot discharge into the lagoon… It will hold back for about one or two hours,” Wahab said, noting that waters typically recede quickly once the rain stops due to the city’s coastal geography.
He referenced predictions from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the state’s 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction, which forecasted above-normal rainfall ranging between 1,650mm and 3,030mm.
The commissioner attributed some persistent flooding issues, such as in Ajiran, to illegal land reclamation by private landowners and called for extended drainage channels.
He also stressed the role of indiscriminate waste dumping in worsening floods and urged residents to use designated Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators, with complaints to be directed to the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
Wahab warned that the cleared median on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway reserved for a future rail line would remain off-limits, with ongoing patrols and prosecutions for violators.
The government appealed for calm and public cooperation, emphasizing that these measures aim to protect lives and property amid the rainy season.
Residents in vulnerable communities have been advised to avoid building on or blocking drainage channels and to stay informed through official channels.
This latest wave of flooding and enforcement actions highlights the ongoing challenges Lagos faces with rapid urbanization, poor waste management, and climate-driven extreme weather in Africa’s largest city.
