Nigeria could face heavier rainfall and more severe flooding over the next 12 weeks if urgent action is not taken, the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) has warned.
NiHSA Director-General Umar Mohammed said recent floods in Lagos and other parts of the country did not come as a surprise because the agency had already predicted them and issued early warnings.
"This is something we foresaw.
"We saw it coming," Mohammed said.
He added that the agency's "predictions and warnings were disregarded."
He warned that the rainy season is only beginning and conditions could become much worse between July and September.
"As we speak now, with the flooding happening, if nothing is done, this is just the start of the rainy season, sometime around July-September, and it could be be worse than what is even happening right now,"
Mohammed said.
"We're expecting it to be worse around August-September, particularly August-September."
According to him, Lagos faces a unique risk because urban, riverine and coastal flooding can occur at the same time.
He said some low-lying parts of the state are at or below sea level, while blocked drainage channels and water from the Ogun River are making the situation worse.
Mohammed also warned that prolonged flooding could contaminate drinking water.
He said NiHSA had already collected water-quality data before the floods and plans to carry out further tests to determine how floodwaters affect boreholes and other water sources.
The warning comes after days of heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding across Lagos, leaving roads submerged, vehicles stranded and businesses disrupted.
Earlier this year, the Federal Government identified 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory as being at risk of flooding during the 2026 rainy season and urged residents in vulnerable communities to heed official warnings.
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