Breaking: Why Everyone Is Talking About Lagos in 2025 – Top 7 Surprises Revealed

For the second time in a week, torrential rain has paralyzed Nigeria’s commercial capital, leaving thousands of commuters stranded as flash floods swallowed major arteries from Ikorodu Road to the Lekki-Epe Expressway. By dawn on Friday, waist-deep water had submerged scores of cars, while stalled commercial buses created a 15-kilometre tailback that stretched from Ojota to Maryland. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) warned of “unprecedented congestion” and urged motorists to seek alternative routes as water pumps battled to clear flooded underpasses. Residents in low-lying communities like Iyana-Ipaja, Ajegunle and Epe reported overnight power cuts, with some families climbing onto rooftops to escape rising water. “We had only ten minutes to grab our children before the flood took over the ground floor,” said Kafilat Adebayo, a trader in Ikorodu whose home has flooded three times this month. The state’s emergency agency confirmed no fatalities but said rescue teams evacuated 32 people from cars and flooded buildings. Climate analysts blame the chaos on a perfect storm of intense Atlantic moisture, poorly maintained drainage and rapid urban expansion. Lagos receives an average of 1,500 mm of rainfall annually, but data from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency show September 2025 precipitation already 18 percent above normal. Urban planners warn that paved surfaces and blocked canals push runoff toward residential estates that mushroomed without adequate drainage plans. The flooding comes barely 24 hours after another structural scare in the metropolis. Six construction workers were pulled from the rubble when a two-storey building collapsed in the Onipanu area late Wednesday; officials said the structure failed a recent integrity test but renovation continued regardless. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered an audit of all high-risk buildings and vowed to “prosecute negligent developers.” The Lagos State Building Control Agency lists over 100 buildings for immediate demolition, citing substandard materials and illegal floor additions. Economic losses from this week’s floods could surpass ₦15 billion, according to the Lagos Chamber of Commerce, which estimates that 65 percent of daily retail activity depends on road transportation. Disrupted supply chains are already driving up food prices in Balogun and Mile 12 markets, where tomatoes and onions sold for nearly double Thursday’s prices. In the short term, the government has deployed mobile pumps to critical corridors such as Marina-Third Mainland Bridge and opened relief camps at LASEMA centers in Agidingbi and Lekki Phase I. Long-term plans include dredging 200 kilometres of drain channels, raising embankments along the Ogun River, and accelerating the long-delayed Lagos Flood Management Master Plan, which experts say requires at least US$3 billion in funding. Environmental groups are urging Lagosians to view the disaster as a wake-up call. “Flood-resilient infrastructure, green roofs and enforced waste segregation are no longer optional,” said Dr. Chukwuemeka Ogbonna of the Centre for Urban Resilience, University of Lagos. A pending Climate Adaptation Bill, now before the State House of Assembly, proposes tax incentives for developers who incorporate permeable pavements and rainwater harvesting. Meanwhile, social media hashtags #SaveLagos and #LagosFloods are trending as frustrated residents share videos of submerged streets, floating kiosks and stranded school buses. Tech-savvy commuters have turned to ride-sharing apps and real-time flood maps to navigate the deluge, but many say only structural reforms can prevent a repeat of this week’s mayhem. With peak rainy season extending into October, meteorologists predict more downpours in the coming days. Authorities advise citizens to clear gutters, avoid walking through floodwaters and dial the 767 emergency line for immediate assistance. For Nigeria’s 23-million-strong megacity, the message is stark: adapt now or endure ever-worsening annual floods that threaten lives, livelihoods and the future of Africa’s largest urban economy.