September 25, 2025

If you’ve ever lived in Lagos, you’ll know that the city doesn’t just test your patience—it tests your wallet, your sanity, and sometimes, even your swimming skills.

The dream of living in “Island life”—Lekki, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Ajah—often looks glamorous on Instagram: rooftop lounges, short drives to the beach, sparkling waterfront views. But behind the fine aesthetics, there’s a hidden Lagos tax that no landlord will ever disclose: the flood tax.

Picture this: you’ve just signed a two-year lease on a shiny duplex in Lekki Phase 1. Fresh tiles, gleaming kitchen, POP ceiling lights. You even popped champagne with your friends to celebrate your “soft life upgrade.”

Then the rains come. At first, just a drizzle, then a downpour. Within two hours, your street has transformed into the Atlantic Ocean. Cars are floating, mosquitoes are rehearsing for a festival, and your Uber driver calls to say, “Oga, I dey sorry, but boat no dey for Bolt.”

Welcome to Lagos Island, where luxury homes can quickly become luxury swimming pools.

Even popular influencer, Enioluwa had no choice but to cry out on social media. He lamented paying heavily for a house in a prime location in Lagos only to be trapped indoor by the flood.

Also Read: Enioluwa Blasts Lagos Infrastructure: “Trapped Indoors” in Prime Neighborhoods

That’s why before you rent a house in Lagos Island, you must look beyond the chandelier in the living room and the imported tiles. Otherwise, you’ll pay millions just to learn how to kayak your way to work.

Here are 5 things you must do before renting a house in Lagos Island.

1. Visit the House During Heavy Rainfall

Forget glossy real estate flyers. Forget that your agent says, “Madam, this street no dey flood.” Lagos agents can swear on their ancestors’ graves just to close a deal. The real test is rain.

Take a drive to the area on a rainy day. If you can’t access the street without folding your trousers to your knees, don’t even bother. That “duplex with sea view” might just be the sea itself.

A banker friend rented a N5 million apartment in Lekki. First rain of the season, she had to climb her neighbor’s fence to escape because the gate was under water.

2. Talk to the Neighbors, Not Just the Landlord

Landlords will tell you everything good about the property, but neighbors will tell you the truth that keeps them awake at night.

Knock on a few doors. Ask the okada riders. Ask the pepper seller. Lagos people don’t sugarcoat their suffering. They’ll tell you how often NEPA takes light, if the road floods, or if the landlord is the type that collects rent with a cane.

This step can save you millions and plenty tears.

3. Inspect the Drainage System Yourself

Don’t let the paved compound deceive you. Look at the gutters. Are they wide? Are they choked with pure water nylon and sachet biscuit wrappers? Are they even connected to a proper channel or just ending behind the house?

Some “luxury estates” only exist on paper. In reality, you’ll find open gutters masquerading as swimming pools. If you rent there, congratulations—you’ve bought yourself a waterbed without asking.

4. Test the Commute During Rush Hour

Flood is not the only wahala on Lagos Island. Traffic is the second devil. Before you sign anything, drive from the area to your office during peak hours. You’ll be shocked how 10 minutes on Google Maps can turn into 3 hours of staring at danfo drivers cursing each other.

Because when the rains mix with Lagos traffic, you’re not just paying rent—you’re paying with your mental health.

5. Forget the Glamour, Check the Survival Basics

Forget the chandeliers, the imported Italian tiles, or the fact that the house has 6 bathrooms. The questions you should be asking are:

* Does water run 24/7 or will you be carrying buckets like it’s 1999?
* Is the estate generator just for decoration?
* How high are the fences—can flood water walk in freely?
* Do neighbors use canoes or cars when it rains?

If you don’t ask these survival questions, you’ll realize too late that Lagos Island luxury is often just a glossy scam.

Lagos Will Always Lagos

Living on Lagos Island comes with bragging rights, yes. But don’t let social media fool you. Many people are trapped in flooded estates, regretting why they didn’t ask the right questions.

So before you sign that lease, shine your eyes. Because in Lagos, the real estate agent will sell you “Prime Waterfront Property.” But what they really mean is: “Your compound go flood reach your waist.”