As the rainy season approaches, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), are holding a sensitisation programme on flooding and preparedness aimed at reducing disaster risk and strengthening early warning systems across Lagos State.

The event will be held tomorrow at the Folarin Coker Hall, Alausa, Secretariat, Lagos.

Speaking during a press briefing, ahead of the programme, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke- Osanyintolu, said the work of combating flood is for everybody, which should not be left to government and government agencies alone, insisting that citizens must also play their part in preventing flooding.

The PS further stated that other stakeholders, including the local government officials, community leaders, market associations, transport unions, and civil society organisations, would be around to review evacuation protocols, flood vulnerability maps, and community-level response plans ahead of the 2026 rainy season.

LASEMA’s PS disclosed that the state is shifting from a reactive to a responsive approach to disaster management.

“Lagos is a coastal megacity with over 22 million residents and extensive waterways. While this drives economic growth, it also exposes us to recurrent flooding. In 2025, over 1,100 emergency incidents were recorded, many linked to flooding. Our focus for 2026 is prevention, early warning, and community-level preparedness. Response alone is no longer sufficient,” Dr Oke-Osanyintolu stated.

Also speaking, Mr Akinyode Saheed, South-West Coordinator, NEMA, emphasised the importance of federal-state alignment in disaster risk reduction.

“NEMA is committed to supporting Lagos State with technical expertise, early warning data, and relief resources where needed. Our joint operations protocol ensures that when an incident escalates beyond state capacity, federal response is triggered without delay. Preparedness is a shared mandate, and today’s engagement shows that collaboration is working.”

South-West Coordinator National Emergency Management Agency South – West added that public cooperation is critical to the success of early warning systems. “When communities act on alerts and avoid high-risk areas, we save lives and reduce the burden on first responders.”

He also called on the media to play a critical role in risk communication by disseminating accurate, timely, and verified information to prevent panic and support coordinated response.

The PS emphasised the key pillars of the 2026 flood preparedness strategy to include:

“Intelligence and early warning: LASEMA has strengthened its 24/7 Command and Control Centre with real-time data from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). Residents will receive localised alerts 48–72 hours before predicted heavy rainfall through radio, SMS, social media, and community networks.

“Sensitisation and capacity building: The agency is training and activating community disaster marshals in all 57 LGAs and LCDAs to serve as first responders and information channels. Today’s stakeholder engagement is the first in a series of grassroots outreach efforts.

“Coordinated response and resource prepositioning: Emergency equipment and relief materials have been prepositioned in high-risk zones. LASEMA’s Light Rescue, Heavy Duty, and Marine Units are on standby, operating under the new joint operations protocol with NEMA to ensure seamless federal-state coordination.

Oke-Osanyintolu, also urged residents to take proactive steps to reduce flood risk, including clearing drainage channels, avoiding indiscriminate waste disposal, and evacuating promptly when advised.

“Disaster management is not the responsibility of the government alone. Every resident has a role to play. Blocked drainage remains the leading cause of urban flash floods in Lagos,” he said.

He said residents can contact LASEMA’s 24/7 emergency lines on *112* or *767* for assistance and to report incidents.