I know from the title of this article, a lot of people may think the theme of this article is serious, infact it is very much serious though it's not what many will expect as the society seems not to see it as something serious.
According to the United Nations, a situation can be considered a threat to society when it: Endangers the life, safety, or well-being of individuals or groups, undermines the rule of law and institutions, threatens peace and security, including international stability, involves large-scale violence, human rights abuses, or genocide, disrupts essential services like healthcare, water, or food security, causes significant harm to the environment or economy.
Judging by the standards of the United Nation, the theme of this article can be considered a threat and what is this theme, "Flood".
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a flood as “an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry, often caused by heavy rainfall, storm surges, or dam failures, leading to displacement, damage, and disruption to communities, with significant impacts on health, safety, and well-being.”
According to WHO, the causes of Flood includes :Climate change (Rising sea levels), Mudflows, Tsunamis, Dam failures, Deforestation, urbanization, poor drainage infrastructures, flood risk, Storm surges, Heavy rainfall etc.
Lagos State can be considered a riverine area due to its geography. It is has about 8 water bodies embedded or cutting across it territorial boundaries, they include Ogun River, Lagos Lagoon, Osun River, Yoruba River, Adire River, Five Cowries Creek, Lekki Lagoon, Atlantic Ocean (coastal boundary. Although the water bodies in Lagos States are more than 8, the above mentioned are the most prominent ones.
According to recent statistics , Lagos State has approximately 50.3% of its area covered by water, placing it 32nd among states with the highest percentage of water bodies in Nigeria. However what makes it more dangerous is that it is the state with the lowest land mass and ironically the most populated. In the past , areas covered by water in Lagos State was beyond the current estimated percentage, areas such as Lekki, Atlantic City , Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Banana Island were majorly riverine or coastal areas that were gained by the government through reclamation process.
We unbiasedly have to give the government their flowers for this wonderful Urban Development Processes, but we must also ask the questions, are these steps wise ? should the priority of safeguarding life's and properties be sacrificed for urban development ? what steps is the government carrying out to combat flood ?
Statistics according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) report that, as of 2025, Lagos State had 57,951 people affected, 3,680 displaced, and 3,244 houses damaged due to flooding. Believe me this is just the beginning if the government doesn't take action. Reclamation of lands by the government is not the sole cause of Flood but it plays a major role as houses, institutions, estates are built where waters should have a free passage for flowing. According to the Lagos State ministry of environment and water resources the water level in Lagos State is rising due to climate change, with projections indicating a potential increase of up to 1 meter by 2100. This rise is attributed to factors such as sea-level rise, tidal surges, and increased rainfall intensity. Sea-Level Rise is projected to increase by 0.3 meters by 2030 and up to 1 meter by 2100. Coastal erosion is also a significant concern, with 84% of Lagos' coastline receding over the past 50 years.
It said that every problem has a solution and one of the solution to this problems is adequate drainage systems, to be honest factually stating,even some urban areas lack adequate drainage systems not to talk of the rural areas.
Lagos State has constructed and restored several drainage channels in recent years which includes; Primary Drainage Channels [12 channels covering 32.5 kilometers were restored from 2023 to 2024, with 4 more primary channels proposed for restoration in 2025], Secondary Drainage Channels [ 84 channels totaling 96 kilometers were restored in 2024 ]. The Drainage Channels restored are over 579 km of secondary collectors and 309 km of primary channels have been maintained from 2023 to 2025. 1,141 contraventions were also removed in the past year to restore Drainage Rights of Way (ROW) across the state. Contravention refers to unauthorized constructions or obstructions within drainage rights of way that hinder water flow and increase flood risk, they include; buildings, fences, or other structures built on or over drainage channels, as well as dumping of waste or debris into drains.
To be continued
