CribCheckLagos floods for structural reasons: much of the city sits barely above sea level, large areas are reclaimed wetland, drainage is often blocked or built over, and rainfall arrives in short intense bursts. That is why two streets a few hundred metres apart can behave completely differently.
Where flooding recurs
- Lekki–Ajah corridor, including Ikate, Agungi, Osapa, Ado, Badore and Sangotedo.
- Lekki Phase 1 interior streets during intense rainfall and high tide.
- Parts of Victoria Island and Oniru.
- Mainland low points: Ajegunle, Iwaya, Makoko fringes, Agege, Oshodi, Ketu, Mile 12.
- Ikorodu and the Ikorodu Road corridor during heavy downpours.
- Lower streets in Yaba and parts of Surulere where drainage is old or blocked.
Treat this as a prompt to inspect, not a verdict. Within any of these areas there are streets that drain in minutes and streets that hold water for days.
What to check on the street
- Is the compound level below the road? Water will flow towards the building.
- Are there raised kerbs, ramps, sandbags or a raised gate threshold? Someone built those for a reason.
- Is the drainage open, covered, sand-filled or absent?
- Are there brown or grey water lines across gates, fences and the base of walls?
- Has the ground floor been raised or retiled recently?
What to ask
- How bad was the last heavy rain on this street?
- How long did water stay before it drained?
- Did water enter any of the buildings, and which ones?
- Does the estate or CDA clear the drains, and when last?
Ask two people who are not the agent. Flooding is the one risk where local memory beats any document.