…Urges residents to clear drains, avoid flooded roads
…Activates emergency response teams as flash floods persist
The Ogun State Government has issued a fresh alert on the likelihood of increased torrential rainfall and heightened flash flooding across the state over the next three weeks, urging residents to remain vigilant and take proactive safety measures.
The advisory was released on Sunday by the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ola Oresanya, who noted that the recent flood incidents are consistent with seasonal weather patterns and should not be met with panic.
Dr Oresanya advised residents to stay indoors during heavy rainfall or, where necessary, to seek shelter in safe locations. He cautioned motorists against attempting to drive through flooded roads, noting that such waters can be deceptively deep and dangerous. Most flash floods, he added, tend to recede within one to two hours.
He appealed to the public to clear blocked drains and waterways in their surroundings to allow for proper water flow, adding that indiscriminate waste disposal remains a major factor contributing to urban flooding.
The Commissioner revealed that Community Development Associations (CDAs) across all 20 local government areas have been mobilised to act as frontline responders. In cases of emergency, residents are urged to contact the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) or the nearest Flood Emergency Response Team.
“The Ogun State Government is calling on residents not to panic but to comply fully with all precautionary measures put in place to safeguard lives and property during this critical period,” the statement read.
Dr Oresanya said the early warning aims to dissuade residents from making impulsive, fear-driven decisions and instead adopt simple but effective flood-prevention habits that will reduce the impact on their communities.
This advisory follows a similar forecast from neighbouring Lagos State earlier this year, where authorities projected above-average rainfall of 1,936mm between March and December 2025. The Lagos forecast, driven by a neutral El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phase, predicts strong winds and prolonged rainfall episodes.
In line with Lagos, the Ogun State Government has reiterated its concern over illegal refuse dumping in drainage channels and along road verges, stressing that such behaviour exacerbates the risk of flash floods and poses a major hazard to public safety.
Dr Oresanya appealed to all residents to desist from such practices and to actively support ongoing state-led environmental protection efforts.
The government has advised the public to remain alert, observe all flood safety protocols, and ensure their homes and communities are adequately prepared, as relevant agencies continue to monitor developments and provide emergency assistance where needed.