Actress Cossy Ojiakor Displaced by Severe Flooding in Lagos
Nollywood actress Cossy Ojiakor has been left homeless and stranded after a torrential downpour on Sunday, June 30, 2026, inundated her apartment and submerged major roads across Lagos. The actress, who recently underwent ankle hardware removal surgery, shared distressing videos on Instagram showing her home under water, with neighbors helping to salvage damaged furniture by stacking it on top of her car.
In a video caption, Ojiakor wrote: "I had ankle hardware removal surgery last month … I dreaded the floods. My neighbors helped me a lot. But now I am healed and I no longer use clutches. Had to pack spoilt furniture on top of my car." She added in another post: "This is my first Flood experience in years. Water has never entered my home. If the canal was not removed, water would not enter my home. Now I don’t like the sound of Calabar Express Road… ohhh our transformer is flooded … so its lights was disconnected."
Widespread Disruption Across Lagos
The heavy rainfall, which began in the Ajah area in the morning, caused widespread waterlogging across the state, leading to severe traffic congestion and stranding numerous motorists. In local government areas such as Gbagada, floodwaters disrupted traffic, causing several vehicles to develop faults after driving through submerged roads. Many vehicles were seen stranded, forcing drivers to stop and inspect their cars for possible damage.
Ojiakor is among thousands of Lagos residents affected by the flooding. The incident has sparked renewed public criticism of the state government's preparedness for seasonal flooding, especially given Lagos's status as a coastal city prone to heavy rains.
Government Response and Past Flooding
The latest flooding comes nearly a year after the Lagos State Government apologized to residents and commuters over widespread flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in July 2025. That downpour affected communities including Eredo, Bojije, Epe, Sangotedo, Ibeju-Lekki, Awoyaya, Labora, Abijo, Iyana-Oworo, Agege, Ijegun-Isheri, Osun, and Gbagada. The floods disrupted traffic and led to the collapse of a two-storey building in the Mushin area.
Following the 2025 incident, residents criticized the state government for failing to adequately prepare for flooding. However, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, maintained that the flooding was caused by natural factors rather than poor planning by the state government.
Impact on Infrastructure and Public Safety
The flooding has also affected critical infrastructure. Ojiakor noted that the electricity transformer in her area was disconnected due to rising waters, leaving residents without power. The incident highlights ongoing challenges with drainage systems and urban planning in Lagos, where rapid development has often encroached on natural waterways.
As of June 2026, over 30 Nigerian states are on high flood alert, according to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Lagos, with its low-lying coastal geography, remains particularly vulnerable during the rainy season.
