The Ogun State government has advised people living in coastal and riverine areas to move to safer grounds between the end of September and the middle of October because of anticipated flooding linked to sea level rise and river overflow.
This advisory was contained in the 2025 Ogun State Midterm Flood Alert issued on Sunday, the 14th of September, 2025, by the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya.
Communities expected to be most at risk include Ilo, Iju, Owa, Yemule, Isheri, Warewa, Akute, Ayetoro, Itele, Iju Makun, Oni, Iwopin, Igele, Ifaara (Ogun Waterside), Ebute-Imobi (Ijebu East), Tungeji Island and Agosasa in Ipokia local government area.
Explaining the situation, Oresanya said the planned relocation was necessary because of “the expected high rainfall and overflow from the northern part of the country and neighboring countries like Benin to Ogun and Lagos.”
He noted that the water surge is usually part of the “second phase of flooding, from September through November every year” and would last about two weeks.
According to him, predictions by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) show that “September will have the highest rainfall of 204mm, followed by October at 190mm while by November the intensity of the rainfall wound have gone down to 93mm.”
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On preparedness, the commissioner assured that the Ogun State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) was fully mobilised and ready for “any emergency evacuation and relocation to temporary emergency camps spread across the state.”
He also disclosed that the ministry is working with the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority to regulate the release of water from Oyan Dam so as to cushion its impact.
Oresanya further cautioned that residents should “avoid the usage of their boreholes and well waters at this period as they are subject to contamination due to the expected flooding and tidal variations.”
Fish farmers in lowland areas like Eriwe, Yemule, Ijebu Ode, Ilase, Ayegbami in Yewa and others in the state’s flood plains were equally advised to harvest their stock to avoid losses from floodwaters.