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Flooding: Panic in Lagos over impending disaster alert
An uneasy calm hangs over Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, particularly on the Island, as residents brace for what experts predict could be one of the worst flood seasons in recent years.
The fear was heightened following a fresh warning by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, which listed Lagos among states at high risk of severe flooding in its 2025 Annual Flood Outlook unveiled last week in Abuja.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, who presided over the event, urged residents in flood-prone communities, particularly those on Lagos Island, Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Ajah, to prepare for severe flooding due to heavy rainfall, rising sea levels and overstretched urban drainage infrastructure.
For many Lagosians, this is not an unfamiliar dread. The city, perched precariously on the Atlantic coast, has witnessed repeated flood disasters over the years, incidents that have damaged properties, paralysed businesses and displaced many families.
The pattern dates as far back as 2012 when Lagos experienced severe flooding following torrential rains in July. Major streets such as Ahmadu Bello Way, Ozumba Mbadiwe and Marina on the Island were completely submerged.
Businesses were forced to close, while vehicles and pedestrians alike were stranded for hours in waist-deep water.
The year marked one of the worst flood disasters in the state’s history. That year, floodwaters submerged homes across Ikoyi, Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island and parts of Ajah.
Residents waded through waist-high water as several roads became impassable. Many were displaced, with properties worth millions of naira lost to the deluge.
In the wake of NIHSA’s warning, Lagos residents have expressed deep concerns over the looming flood threat.
Funmi Adebayo, a civil servant and resident of Lekki Phase 1, said “Each time the rains come, we live in fear.
“Last year, water flooded my sitting room and destroyed my furniture. I had to replace household items worth over N2 million. These annual warnings only remind us of our helplessness.
”Kennedy Terfa, a media executive based in Victoria Island, lamented that “Flooding here has become a tradition. In 2022, my office server and several gadgets were destroyed when water poured in during a downpour.
The government makes promises every year, but we hardly see sustainable action.”
Titi Balogun, a teacher living in Oniru Estate, expressed her frustration thus: “During the rainy season, I barely sleep at night.
“We’re constantly checking if water levels are rising. Last year, a neighbour’s fence collapsed because of flood pressure. It’s terrifying, especially with children in the house.”
Ayo Shonibare, a commercial driver who plies the Ajah–Lekki–Victoria Island route, noted: “Once it rains, everywhere locks down. Our roads are terrible and the drains are always clogged.
“It’s either you risk your vehicle getting stuck or stay home and lose income. Nobody should have to live like this in a city like Lagos.”
Meanwhile, responding to the growing tension, the Lagos State Government has reiterated its preparedness to manage the anticipated downpours and flooding, particularly in vulnerable areas on the Island.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, during an inspection of the ongoing Lagos Island Urban Regeneration Project, assured residents that proactive steps were underway.
Wahab confirmed that the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG) had been fully mobilized to operate year-round, focusing on desilting blocked drainages, clearing canals, and addressing flood-prone areas.
“We are not treating this as business as usual. Our drainage clearing and urban regeneration projects on Lagos Island and other flood-prone areas are in top gear.
“EFAG teams have been deployed across the state and will remain active throughout the year to prevent disaster,” Wahab stated.
He further appealed to residents to cooperate with government agencies by avoiding indiscriminate waste disposal, which contributes to drainage blockage.
News
Mauritania’s Tah succeeds Adesina as 9th AfDB President
Tah was elected to succeed Adesina after rounds of voting conducted by the AfDB Board of Governors during the Bank’s Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah has been elected as the ninth president of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) as Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina prepares to bow out.
The Bank announced his election on its website on Thursday.
Adesina’s 10-year tenure will end this year and Tah is expected to assume office on September 1, 2025.
Tah was elected to succeed Adesina after rounds of voting conducted by the AfDB Board of Governors during the Bank’s Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Board comprises finance ministers and central bank governors from the Bank’s 81 member countries.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Monday Okphebholo as duly elected in the September 21, 2024 Edo Governorship polls, as it affirms the decision of the Tribunal which on April 2 dismissed the petition of Asue Ighodalo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for lacking merit.
A three-man panel of the Appeal court, presided over by Justice Mohamed Danjuma, restated the position of the Tribunal which held that the PDP failed to provide sufficient and credible evidence to substantiate their claims of electoral malpractice, irregularities, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The panel held that the PDP failed to provide sufficient and credible evidence to substantiate their claims of electoral malpractice, irregularities, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The Appellate Court agrees with the Tribunal that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) Machines which the appellants tendered were merely ‘dumped’ as they weren’t demonstrated to prove overvoting.
This the Court held after it earlier expunged the 133 BVAS machines admitted in evidence at the Tribunal stage of the Governorship tussle.
Ighodalo and the PDP were further faulted by the Appellate Court for failing to tender the voter register to prove overvoting.
The Court further adds that BVAS extract doesn’t constitute items with which to prove overvoting. It says the documents tendered by the PDP at the Tribunal did not, on their own, prove overvoting, non-holding or cancellation of elections at the polling units.
To further puncture the case of the PDP, the panel says the 19 witnesses called by the appellants during the Tribunal hearing didn’t help their case.
It says the majority of them did not witness what they spoke about. Moreso, it adds they were insufficient to prove irregularities in polling stations at over 4,000 locations.
Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC, had declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, against Asue Ighodalo of the PDP who garnered 247,274 votes.
The former Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. former, Dr Betta Edu, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his Two Years in Office.
Edu, who joined millions of Nigerians and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC to heartily congratulate the president on his second year in office as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria said the president has been a true father to all.
Her statement reads: Mr. President, Father of the nation.
I join millions of Nigerians and members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC to heartily congratulate you on your second year in office as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Despite the obvious challenges, your dedication to transforming Nigeria and changing the economic landscape by improving the lives of the citizens in the long run is visible, even to the greatest critics.
It’s has not been an easy ride navigating terrains that even lions won’t dare! Your commitment to hard work and a result oriented leadership is unprecedented.
The focus of your administration on economic rejuvenation is evidently changing the narrative and Nigerians are witnessing the positive impacts, including infrastructural development, education for all, affordable housing, huge improvement in the security situation among others, in just two years.
These positive developments underscore the renewed hope agenda of your administration.
Your Excellency, this was the toughest two years of your four + four years journey leading our nation.
The right foundation has been laid; it’s time for the fruits to blossom.
Forward forever, Nigeria will experience a rebirth, under your dynamic and visionary leader, A Lion is never distracted by the bleats of goats.
Mr. President keeps raising the bar….her statement reads.
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