Flooding Displaces 3,000, Impacts 6,000 Residents in Lagos – Governor Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has revealed that flooding incidents between January and October 2025 have displaced more than 3,000 residents and affected over 6,000 others, with a total of 57,000 people impacted across the state.

The governor made this disclosure during the 2025 World Habitat Day commemoration held in Ikeja on Monday. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Sanwo-Olu emphasized the need for urgent, coordinated action to protect lives and infrastructure from the increasing threat of climate change.

Lagos’ Flooding Crisis: A Coastal City Under Pressure

Speaking on this year’s theme, “Urban Crisis Response: Flooding in Focus,” Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the vulnerability of Lagos as a coastal megacity, stating: “As an aquatic state, flooding remains one of the biggest environmental threats confronting Lagos. It has the capacity to cause widespread damage to lives and property.”

He noted that numerous homes have been destroyed, and that ongoing displacement threatens the livelihoods of thousands of Lagosians.

Government Response and Urban Resilience Strategy

Sanwo-Olu outlined the state’s approach to building resilience through an integrated urban development strategy, which includes:

• Sustainable land-use planning

• Resilient infrastructure development

• Expansion of affordable housing

• Green space promotion

• Comprehensive climate change adaptation programs

He identified the Lagos State Resilience Office (LASRO) as the key coordinating agency for these initiatives under the T.H.E.M.E.S.+ Agenda.

“Emergency response alone is not enough. Building a truly resilient Lagos requires early warning systems, efficient drainage networks, and strong collaboration with federal agencies, humanitarian organizations, and local communities,” the governor said.

Call for Partnerships and Innovation

Governor Sanwo-Olu appealed to private investors, development partners, and innovators to support Lagos’ flood-resilience goals. He cited potential areas of collaboration such as:

• Mangrove restoration

• Flood-resilient housing

• Smart drainage systems

• Renewable energy

• Urban risk insurance

He also highlighted existing collaborations, including with the Dangote Group, as examples of effective public-private partnerships.