Lagos residents are battling another round of devastating floods, and a viral joke from comedian Gilmore has turned frustration into a full-blown debate on class, climate, and accountability.
The Flood
Torrential rainfall that started Sunday has submerged major parts of Lagos for over 12 hours at a time. Roads, homes, businesses, and vehicles across Lekki, Victoria Island, Oshodi, Ikorodu, Gbagada, Agege, Ikeja, and Yaba have been overtaken by floodwater.
Amid the chaos, comedian Gilmore posted a video showing swift rainwater flow in VI. In the clip, he taunted Lekki residents with the now-viral line about living where ‘you and fish go be neighbors’.
The joke split the internet. While some Lagosians laughed it off, many others called it “tone-deaf classism”, pointing out that high-end estates in Lekki and VI are not immune to the city’s annual flooding crisis despite premium rents.
Lagos Under Water: How Bad Is It?
The downpour left motorists stranded, schools shut, and residents bailing water from homes. The Ojota-Maryland bridge was completely submerged by 11 a.m
Lekki & VI Hit Hard: Viral videos showed residents paddling wooden canoes through floodwaters in upscale Lekki. “The rain has taken over my house. All my appliances have been destroyed,” said 54-year-old trader Rukayat Saidu in Amukoko.
Lagos Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the state is aware and has directed contractors to begin excavation for culverts and concrete lining as a “permanent solution”. He apologized for the hardship.
Why Lagos Keeps Flooding: The Root Causes
Officials and experts blame a mix of factors:
Clogged Drains & Waste Disposal: Wahab and others cite indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages. Actor Kunle Remi also called it out: “Nigerians are dirty people… Let’s stop throwing trash into drainages. Why won’t it flood?”.
Poor Urban Planning: ADC’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour said “poorly regulated sand filling, unchecked development, the destruction of wetlands, and weak urban planning” have exposed millions.
Climate & Geography: NiMet forecast “above-normal rainfall” for 2026, with Lagos at greater risk due to its coastal, low-lying terrain. NIHSA listed Lagos among 33 states at high flood risk between July and September.
‘Premium’ Areas Aren’t Safe Anymore
Gilmore’s jab touched a nerve because Lekki was once seen as flood-proof if you “bought better land”. But 2026 has erased that myth. Flooding is now reported across both low-income and highbrow districts.
NiMet’s Director General has even argued that “the entire structures in the Lekki peninsula need to be demolished and the entire area re-planned” because building indiscriminately on a flood-prone peninsula was “an anomaly”.
Public Reaction: Anger, Memes, and Demands
Residents took to X with cries for help. Others shared videos of Mercedes Benzes parked to avoid Ikorodu road floods. Atiku Abubakar sympathized with affected families and businesses, calling for unity.
For many, Gilmore’s joke was a reminder that in Lagos rain, “whether you’re driving a Range Rover or a ‘small car’, the Lagos rains are the ultimate equaliser”.
With NiMet warning of continuous rainfall and possible flash floods in coastal communities, residents in high-risk zones like Lekki, Ajah, Ikorodu, Surulere, and Mushin have been advised to clear gutters and monitor alerts.
