The Lagos State Government has cautioned residents against sharing misleading information on social media, saying the spread of false flood-related content could misinform the public and undermine genuine concerns about flooding in the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, issued the warning in a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday while reacting to a viral video that was falsely presented as showing flooding in Lagos.
According to the commissioner, the footage circulating online did not originate from Lagos but was actually recorded in Bangladesh.
While acknowledging the constitutional right to freedom of expression, Wahab stressed that such rights must be exercised responsibly and within the limits of the law.
“While we acknowledge and respect everyone’s right to freedom of expression, it is important to recognise that every right comes with corresponding responsibilities and legal limits,” he said.
He warned that the deliberate spread of false information and misleading narratives could erode public confidence
He warned that the deliberate spread of false information and misleading narratives could erode public confidenc and distract from legitimate environmental issues facing the state.
“The deliberate dissemination of false information and misleading narratives not only undermines the efforts of the Lagos State Government but also diminishes the credibility of genuine complaints raised by well-meaning residents,” Wahab added.
Addressing the social media user identified as @iamscrummy_, the commissioner said the viral flood video attributed to Lagos was, in fact, from Bangladesh, urging greater caution before sharing unverified content.
“The flood video you shared and attributed to Lagos State is actually from Bangladesh. We kindly encourage you to verify the authenticity and origin of such content before sharing it, as the dissemination of inaccurate information can mislead the public and undermine genuine discussions about issues affecting Lagos,” he said.
The clarification comes amid recent heavy rainfall and temporary flooding in parts of Lagos, which the state government has attributed largely to elevated lagoon water levels slowing the discharge of stormwater into drainage channels.
Authorities have continued to advise residents to rely on verified information while assuring the public that flood management efforts are ongoing.
