APM Blames Govt Negligence For Lagos Flooding – Demands Action, Compensation for Victims
'It Is No Longer a Natural Disaster' – APM Declares
The Lagos State chapter of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has launched a blistering attack on the Lagos State Government, blaming the recurring flooding across the metropolis on what it described as government negligence, poor urban planning, and inadequate drainage infrastructure.
In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Ayodele Kazeem, the opposition party expressed deep concern over the worsening flood situation, insisting that the persistent flooding could no longer be regarded solely as a natural disaster.
"It is unacceptable that with every rainfall, communities across the state are thrown into fear and uncertainty," the statement read.
The party traced the crisis to "years of poor urban planning, inadequate drainage systems, weak environmental enforcement, and the government's failure to act proactively despite repeated warnings from experts".
Affected Communities – From Alimosho to Epe
The APM listed several communities that have been severely affected by the flooding, including:
· Alimosho – roads impassable, homes submerged
· Ikorodu – businesses shut down, families displaced
· Agege – vehicles damaged, residents stranded
· Oshodi – commercial activities crippled
· Lekki – properties destroyed, power outages
· Epe – livelihoods lost
· Badagry – communities cut off
· Surulere – floodwaters inundating homes
The party lamented that "hardworking Lagosians have continued to count heavy losses to a disaster that has become an annual occurrence".
What APM Is Demanding – 5 Key Actions
The APM called on the Lagos State Government to move beyond issuing seasonal flood warnings and embark on visible and lasting interventions. The party demanded:
1. Comprehensive Drainage Clearing and Expansion
Drainage channels must be comprehensively cleared and expanded where necessary.
2. Speedy Completion of Ongoing Projects
Ongoing drainage and flood control projects must be completed without delay.
3. Strict Enforcement of Urban Planning Regulations
Proper urban planning regulations must be enforced to prevent further obstruction of waterways.
4. Immediate Relief for Victims
The government must provide emergency relief and financial support to families and business owners whose homes and properties have been damaged.
5. An Independent Investigation
The party also backed calls for an independent investigation into the flooding, especially regarding the Lagos Coastal Road project.
'Lagos Deserves a Government That Plans Ahead'
The APM did not mince words in holding the government accountable:
"The people of Lagos deserve a government that plans ahead rather than reacts after disasters have occurred. They deserve a government that prioritises prevention over sympathy visits and media statements after lives and properties have already been lost," the statement said.
While holding the government responsible for providing adequate infrastructure, the party also urged residents to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels and canals, stressing that "environmental sanitation requires collective responsibility".
However, the APM maintained that "citizens cannot be blamed for institutional failures" and that "the primary duty of providing functional infrastructure, effective drainage systems, and proper environmental management rests squarely with the government".
Doherty Joins the Chorus – Questions Lagos Coastal Road
Funso Doherty, the Lagos State governorship candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), also weighed in, linking the worsening flooding in some coastal communities to alleged failures in environmental governance surrounding the construction of the Lagos Coastal Road.
Doherty argued that blaming the flooding entirely on flash floods or poor waste disposal overlooked deeper structural issues.
He revealed that documents obtained from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in 2024 indicated that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not available to the bureau when it reviewed the contract for Section One of the Lagos Coastal Road project.
According to him, although about N400 million was included in the contract for an EIA, the project was allegedly awarded and commenced before such an assessment was properly carried out.
"It shows that the road contract was specified, designed, costed and awarded… without an EIA having first been properly done," Doherty said.
He called for an independent investigation into the flooding, remediation measures, and compensation for residents if it is established that non-compliance with environmental laws contributed to the disaster.
Government's Response – 'Illegal Wetland Development Is Worsening Flooding'
Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, has blamed illegal developments on wetlands and floodplains for worsening flooding across Lagos.
He acknowledged that residents should not expect flooding to disappear entirely, saying the government's objective was to minimise its impact rather than promise an unrealistic solution.
Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has declared force majeure on the Oworonshoki 132/33kV and Lekki 330/132kV transmission substations following severe flooding, warning that the development could disrupt electricity supply to customers.
The Bigger Picture – A Recurring Tragedy
The latest flooding comes nearly a year after the Lagos State Government apologised to residents and commuters over widespread flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in July 2025.
Yet, as the APM noted, "the annual cycle of flooding has become an unacceptable burden on Lagosians, many of whom continue to suffer devastating economic and social consequences".
The stakes are high. With weather experts forecasting more rainfall in the coming weeks, concerns are growing over the capacity of Africa's largest city to withstand the environmental and economic consequences of recurring floods.
'The Time for Excuses Has Passed'
The APM has drawn a clear line in the sand: Lagos flooding is no longer a natural disaster – it is a governance failure.
The party's demands are concrete:
· Clear and expand drainage channels
· Complete ongoing flood control projects
· Enforce urban planning regulations
· Provide immediate relief to victims
· Conduct an independent investigation
"The time for excuses has passed. Lagos deserves better, and the people must no longer be subjected to avoidable suffering each time the rains come," the APM declared.
As the 2027 elections approach, the flooding crisis is likely to become a major political issue in Lagos – with the opposition positioning itself as the voice of the people against what it calls years of official neglect.
The question is: Will the government act before the next rainfall?
