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Daud Olatunji
The flood came without mercy.
For one family in Isheri, a thriving riverine community straddling the Ogun-Lagos boundary, it claimed the life of an eight-year-old boy.
Elsewhere in the same community, a mansion worth about โฆ80 million now abandoned after repeated floods rendered it uninhabitable.
In another flood-prone community in Ogun State, a mother still struggles to forget the horrifying moment raging floodwaters tore her child from her hands. The childโs body was recovered four days later.
For residents of Isheri, Wawa, Arigbabuwo and several riverine communities across Ogun State, flooding has become more than an annual environmental disaster. It has become a recurring cycle of grief, displacement, economic loss and psychological trauma.
Yet, amid the destruction, another story is unfolding.
Instead of waiting for disasters to happen before responding, humanitarian organisations, government agencies, community leaders and residents are increasingly embracing preventive measures that are helping to reduce casualties, improve preparedness and strengthen resilience.
While these interventions have not stopped flooding altogether, evidence from affected communities shows they are increasingly saving lives and reducing losses
โฆThe Scale of Ogunโs Flood Challenge
Official records from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Ogun State Government show that flooding and severe rainstorms have remained recurring threats across many parts of Ogun State, reinforcing the need for a shift from disaster response to disaster preparedness.
As far back as 2020, the Ogun State Government identified 24 flood-prone communities, including Isheri, Warewa, Kara, Ijoko, Oke-Afa, Yemule, Sokori and Arakanga, urging residents living along floodplains to relocate before the peak of the rainy season.
The warnings proved justified.
In April 2024, a devastating rainstorm swept through Sagamu Local Government Area, affecting eight communitiesโAraromi, Itun Semo, Kajola, Ayegbami, Jiborisa, Mosu Orisunbare, Agbala and Gbonlu. According to NEMA, houses, schools, worship centres, vehicles, shops and electricity infrastructure were damaged, forcing several families to seek temporary shelter, although no deaths were officially recorded.
During the same month, another severe rainstorm struck Sango-Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, destroying hundreds of homes and shops, uprooting more than 100 electricity poles and damaging community facilities. NEMA reported that more than 30 people sustained injuries.
Three months later, in July 2024, heavy rainfall caused rivers to overflow in Ifo Local Government Area, flooding 10 communities. Homes, kiosks and business premises were submerged, while residents appealed for government assistance.
The overall official assessments by NEMA and the Ogun State Emergency Management Agency (OGSEMA) show that at least 18 communities across Sagamu and Ifo Local Government Areas were directly affected by floods and severe rainstorms in 2024, while destructive storms also caused widespread damage in Sango-Ota.
Communities such as Isheri and Akute in Ifo LGA; Warewa, Kara and Arepo in Obafemi-Owode LGA; Ijoko in Ado-Odo/Ota LGA; and riverine settlements including Iwopin and Ibiade in Ogun Waterside LGA continue to experience flooding almost every rainy season.
โฆA Crisis Fuelled by Climate Change, Human Activities
