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Flooding: Panic in Lagos over impending disaster alert

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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.

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JUST IN: President Tinubu set to return to Nigeria after Saint Lucia, Brazil trip

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President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria on Saturday (today) two weeks after his two-nation visit to Saint Lucia and Brazil.

The President’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga announced this in a post on his official X handle.

Recall that Tinubu departed Abuja for Saint Lucia and Brazil on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

The President paid a state visit to Saint Lucia as part of efforts to deepen Nigeria’s engagement with Caribbean nations and strengthen South-South cooperation.

Tinubu on July 4th departed Saint Lucia for Brazil where he attend the 2025 BRICS Summit, held July 6-7, 2025.

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CBN And Bank of Industry Partner With CEAN To Stabilise Nigeria’s Creative Sector Post-COVID

For more than a decade, CEAN has played a vital role in connecting Nigeria’s informal creative workforce to structured policy, funding, and formal economic opportunities.

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September 12, 2022, Lagos, Nigeria

In a bold and strategic move to rescue Nigeria’s creative industries from the lingering economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Industry (BOI) partnered with the Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (CEAN) to design and implement a nationwide intervention targeting vulnerable creative businesses.

The collaboration, launched in mid-2022, marks a milestone in the recognition of Nigeria’s creative economy as a critical pillar of national development—and affirms CEAN’s position as a trusted stakeholder in industry policy and infrastructure development.

Responding to a Sector in Crisis

The partnership was galvanized by CEAN’s early post-pandemic white paper, “Creating Through Crisis: The Future of Nigerian Creativity Post-COVID.

It presented compelling data and policy recommendations that influenced federal strategy.

While other sectors received initial support under the government’s economic recovery plans, it was CEAN’s persistent advocacy and detailed sector mapping that brought national attention to the creative industries’ urgent needs.

CEAN’s nationwide rollout had seen the training of over 2,000 creative entrepreneurs, advisory support to more than 500 micro-businesses, and the establishment of regional Creative Recovery Hubs in Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu.

“From day one of the pandemic, we understood that Nigeria’s cultural workforce—millions strong—was at risk of collapse,” said Adebowale Ewedemi, CEAN founding executive and veteran media entrepreneur.

“We didn’t just lobby for change; we brought the tools, the structure, and the roadmap,” said Ewedemi.

From Blueprint to Implementation

The result was a landmark intervention program backed by BOI and regulated by CBN, with CEAN serving as the official implementation partner.

The program delivers targeted support to struggling sub-sectors including independent film, performance art, fashion, radio, music, design, and digital content production.

Highlights of the program include:

• Access to low-interest working capital for creative entrepreneurs

• Training grants and accelerator programs for skill development

• Support for studio and performance infrastructure

• Technical assistance for digital transformation and business retooling.

CEAN’s nationwide rollout had seen the training of over 2,000 creative entrepreneurs, advisory support to more than 500 micro-businesses, and the establishment of regional Creative Recovery Hubs in Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu.

Sustained Leadership in Nigeria’s Creative Economy

This intervention is only the latest in CEAN’s long record of national impact. During the peak of the COVID-19 lockdowns, the association served as a frontline support system—offering emergency relief, transitioning training programs online, and shaping portions of the Federal Government’s Survival Fund.

For more than a decade, CEAN has played a vital role in connecting Nigeria’s informal creative workforce to structured policy, funding, and formal economic opportunities.

Through this work, the association—under Ewedemi’s leadership—has consistently introduced original models, innovative frameworks, and institutional partnerships that define sustainable creative sector governance in Africa.

Architects of a New Creative Economy

This partnership with CBN and BOI reflects a broader understanding that Nigeria’s future is tied to the creative ingenuity of its people—and that long-term development requires strategic institutions with deep insight, trust, and capacity.

“We’re proud to move beyond advocacy into implementation. This is not a moment—it’s a movement. We are helping to reshape the creative industry into a nationally recognized economic force, ”said Ewedemi.

As the creative sector continues to recover and rebuild, CEAN remains committed to ensuring that no artist, content creator, or cultural innovator is left behind.

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President Tinubu congratulates Governor Okpebholo on Supreme Court Victory

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Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on the affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court.

The Edo State governorship election took place in September 2024, and Governor Okpebholo was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Supreme Court, as the final arbiter, upheld the election of the governor today.

According to the press statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), President Tinubu encourages Governor Okpebholo to be magnanimous in victory and rally the citizens of Edo across divides towards a singular vision of advancing the state’s development.

The President advises that now that the governor has cleared the legal hurdles, it is time for him to accelerate the delivery of exceptional services and good governance to the people of Edo State, which he has already begun to do.

President Tinubu also congratulates the leadership and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State and calls for cohesion and dedication in effectively discharging the mandate given by the people.

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