Flood: How Lagos residents can mitigate risks – NEMA

n n

File image of people displaced by flood.

n

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised Lagos residents on precautionary measures to adopt to mitigate flood risks during the rainy season.

n

The Head of Lagos Operations, NEMA, Mr Mohammed Olatunde, said this in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

n

Olatunde said the warning aligns with the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook released by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) which listed Lagos among states at high risk of flooding.

n

“The outlook identified thousands of communities nationwide as vulnerable and urged early preparedness to reduce losses,” Olatunde said.

n

He stressed the need for proactive disaster risk reduction to prevent loss of lives, displacement, and destruction of property during the peak season.

n

Olatunde attributed recurring floods largely to human activities, including blocked drainage systems, indiscriminate waste disposal, and construction on natural waterways.

n

He advised residents to regularly clear gutters and drains to ensure free flow of water and avoid dumping refuse in canals and drainage channels.

n

He urged people in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer grounds and called on community leaders to promote awareness and enforce environmental compliance.

n

He also advised households to prepare emergency plans, protect valuable assets, and stay updated with weather forecasts and early warning alerts.

n

Olatunde warned motorists and pedestrians against moving through flooded areas, citing serious risks to life and property.

n

He appealed to residents to take warnings from NiMet and NiHSA seriously to minimise the impact of flooding.

n

“Prevention is far cheaper and better than cure,” he added.

n

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the launch of its flood insurance cover for Lagos in March 2026, warned that inaction on climate change could cost the wider state government around $40 billion by 2050.

n

(NAN)

n n