Remi Ladigbolu/
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) has issued a major flood warning for parts of Lagos as heavy rainfall continues across several parts of the country, following widespread flooding that submerged roads, disrupted traffic and forced residents from their homes in parts of the commercial capital.
The latest information released by the agency places Lagos Island under a “Major/Destructive” flood alert, warning that severe flooding is expected because of heavy rainfall and high tide.
The alert, which covers three communities, remains valid until the morning of June 30.
NiHSA also placed the Abuja Municipal Area Council under a “Watch”, warning that flash flooding is possible in low lying areas.
Hydrological monitoring released by the agency shows that the Lagos Lagoon water level remained within the normal range at 2.45 metres.
However, rainfall intensity in Abuja reached a warning level of 15.2 millimetres per hour, while the River Niger at Lokoja was classified as critical with a water level of 8.7 metres, indicating heightened flood risk along the river.
The warning followed hours of heavy rainfall on Sunday that turned major roads across Lagos into rivers.
Floodwaters submerged sections of Gbagada Expressway, Ikorodu Road, the Lekki Epe Expressway, Ikeja, Ogudu and Maryland, leaving many vehicles stranded and causing severe traffic disruption.
Videos circulating on social media showed some cars almost submerged, while residents in Ogudu reported that floodwater entered homes.
The flooding renewed public concern over blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate waste disposal and the city’s ability to cope with increasingly intense rainfall.
Some residents also questioned whether ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway, may be affecting natural drainage, although there is no official evidence directly linking the project to Sunday’s flooding.
The flooding also triggered debate on social media over the causes of the recurring problem.
Responding to an X user who called on the Lagos State Government to stop roadside trading and demolish buildings erected on waterways, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab said NiMet had earlier forecast above normal rainfall for 2026, with Lagos expected to be among the hardest hit because of its coastal location and low lying terrain.
He argued that flooding was being experienced in several states, including Ogun, Osun, Abia, Kogi, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Enugu and Adamawa, as well as parts of northern Nigeria, adding that the situation should not be viewed as a Lagos only problem.
Wahab said the state government had continued clearing drainage channels, removing illegal structures obstructing waterways and implementing other flood mitigation measures.
He also urged residents to avoid indiscriminate waste disposal and other practices that block drainage systems, stressing that protecting lives and property requires shared responsibility between government and the public.
The Federal Government has also warned that persistent rainfall between June 22 and July 5 could increase flood risk across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with hundreds of communities considered vulnerable.
Despite its statutory responsibility for monitoring rivers, reservoirs and flood risks nationwide, NiHSA remains one of Nigeria’s least visible emergency agencies.
Unlike the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, whose weather forecasts are routinely carried by television and radio stations and widely circulated on social media, NiHSA’s flood warnings rarely receive similar attention until disasters have already occurred.
The agency operates a nationwide flood forecasting system that provides real time information on flood alerts, river levels and rainfall conditions. Yet many Nigerians remain unaware that such information is readily available before floods occur.
Federal and state emergency management agencies have repeatedly stressed that timely access to official warnings remains one of the most effective ways to minimise the impact of flooding.
As Nigeria enters the peak of the rainy season, experts advise residents to monitor flood forecasts issued by NiHSA alongside weather advisories from NiMet, avoid driving or walking through floodwaters, keep drainage channels free of obstruction and relocate early whenever evacuation notices are issued.
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