- Safiu Kehinde
Lagos State government has alerted residents across the state of imminent flash floods and strong wind ahead of the rainy season.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Sunday.
According to the post, the state is anticipated to experience above normal rainfall amounts in the first peak of the rainy season while normal rainfall amounts are expected in the second peak of the 2025 rainy season.
Wahab raised the alarm while speaking during the press briefing of the Seasonal Climate Predictions (SCP) held at Alausa on Wednesday.
The Commissioner said the SCP is in continuation of the tradition to annually alert the public of the patterns of the Y2025 predicted rainfall and its socio-economic implications for the people of Laos State.
He said it is expected that the high amounts of rainfall sometimes would lead to flash flooding events in some parts of the state, adding that strong winds are expected during the onset and end of each rainy season and this may put lives.
According to him, properties may also be at risk with commercial activities disrupted and flight delays which could result to revenue loss.
Wahab disclosed the predicted periods the rain is expected to start across the state and the period it is likely to cease.
“The rainy season is expected to start as early as the last week of March, while the end of season is expected in the first week of December saying the average annual rainfall amount predicted is 1936mm which is greater than the long-term 1991-2020 average” he said.
Wahab said that the forecast for this year is based on the neutral phase of the El-Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) which is expected to persist in the first six to eight months of the year.
He said the forecast also implies an early onset of the rainy season, longer than normal length and delayed end of the rainy season in Lagos.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), according to him, had on the 4th of February 2025 as part of its ministerial mandate released this year’s Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) which was a forecast of the expected patterns of rainfall, temperature and other weather parameters in the entire country.
He stated specifically that Ikeja is expected to have an onset date of 2nd of April and a cessation date of 2nd December with an annual amount of 1900mm while Badagry is expected to have a rainfall onset date of 30th March and the end of season date of 4th December with an rainfall annual amount of 1978mm.
He added that Ikorodu is expected to have a rainfall onset date of 2nd of April and end of season date of 3rd December with an annual amount of 1903mm as Lagos just as Lagos Island on its part is expected to have a rainfall onset date of 1st of April, cessation date of 3rd December and annual amount of 1936mm.
Wahab stressed that Epe is expected to have a rainfall onset date of 31st of March and a cessation date of 4th of December with an annual amount of 1952mm saying Lagos State is expected to experience above normal rainfall and the same scenario is also expected to be experienced in the neighbouring Ogun State.
The Commissioner, however, disclosed that the state government is collaborating with NiMet to monitor the progression of the rain.
“The Ministry is collaborating with NiMet in the annual Seasonal Climate Prediction which has been valuable as a vital weather and early warning tool for farmers, planners, decision makers and operators of the various sectors and businesses that are likely to be impacted by the annual rainfall” he said.
Wahab assured residents that the State Government will continue to reap the benefits of careful and rigorous planning, as the flood control measures are being stepped up to contain any imminent rainfall.