Lagos Residents Demand Use of Flood Fund as Flooding Persists

Residents of Lagos say repeated flooding during the rainy season has disrupted travel, commerce and daily life, prompting calls for the billions of naira earmarked for flood control to be spent promptly. Interviews with locals describe missed flights, blocked roads, submerged markets and schools, and a growing fear each time heavy rain falls. The Ecological Fund allocated ₦1.49 billion to Lagos between January and May 2026, while the state budget set aside about ₦90.78 billion for drainage, dredging and erosion projects, yet many of these initiatives have not yet recorded expenditures.

Citizens blame blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate waste dumping and the Ilubirin estate development, which altered a natural watercourse, for worsening the floods. They urge officials to accelerate drainage works and ensure the ecological funds are applied to the needed infrastructure to protect homes, roads and livelihoods.