Distressing videos circulating on social media have highlighted the severe flooding in Ijede, a community in Ikorodu, Lagos State, where residents are seen wading through waterlogged homes and streets, pleading for urgent government intervention.

In one widely shared video, a distressed woman, standing ankle-deep in murky water, is heard saying in Yoruba:

“We are in Oko Ope in Ijede. Have mercy on us. This is our community. We can’t even enter the house, the flood has damaged everything… Come and save us, today is 4th of August, 2025.”

Another resident, a man filming the extent of flooding around his home, lamented:

“This is what I’m facing in my area in Ijede. From August 3 to 4, Monday morning, inside and outside my house is full of water. Big ocean. See cars inside water.”

Lagos Government Responds

Responding via a statement on X.com (formerly Twitter), the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the government was aware of the flooding in Ikorodu and had begun implementing immediate solutions.

“We have seen the trending video and fully understand the concerns it has raised. I want to assure all residents of Ikorodu that the ongoing drainage project in that area, awarded by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is designed to provide a permanent solution to the problem,” Wahab stated.

He added that he had directed the contractor handling the drainage project to immediately commence excavation toward the discharge point and prioritise the construction of culverts, a key part of the overall drainage solution.

“The concrete lining, which is part of the broader project scope, will continue once the culvert work is stabilised,” Wahab explained.

Apology and Assurance

The commissioner apologised for the current distress residents are experiencing and assured them that their suffering would not be in vain.

“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience residents are currently facing. This is temporary. What we are doing now is laying the groundwork for a permanent fix that will improve the quality of life for everyone in that area.”

Flash Flood Warnings Persist

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast more thunderstorms and heavy rain from Monday through Wednesday, warning of potential flash floods in low-lying areas across Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.

Wahab reiterated the need for residents to cooperate by keeping children indoors, avoiding flooded roads, and refraining from dumping refuse into drains, as earlier advised by the state government.