Lagos, World Bank Partner on Emergency and Disaster Risk Management

The Lagos State Government has announced a strategic collaboration with the World Bank aimed at improving emergency preparedness and disaster risk management across the state.

The partnership was discussed during a strategic meeting held in Alausa between Lagos State officials and a delegation from the World Bank’s Disaster Risk Management team. The meeting focused on strengthening resilience against environmental challenges, particularly flooding and climate-related disasters that frequently affect coastal cities.

Speaking during the meeting, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, noted that Lagos is particularly vulnerable to flooding due to its coastal geography. He explained that the state shares approximately 486 kilometres of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, while nearly 25 per cent of its land area consists of water bodies, making proactive environmental management essential.

Wahab further highlighted several measures already implemented by the state government to address environmental risks, including continuous dredging of drainage channels, cleaning of manholes, enforcement against illegal developments on floodplains and the protection of mangrove ecosystems that naturally help mitigate flooding.

Officials from the World Bank also expressed their readiness to support Lagos through technical expertise, investment support and improved emergency response systems. The collaboration is expected to strengthen early warning mechanisms, emergency planning and public awareness initiatives that will help reduce disaster risks and enhance resilience across the state.