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| Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu |
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the immediate dredging and maintenance of 28 additional primary drainage channels across the state following the recent flooding that affected several communities.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry's spokesperson, Kunle Adeshina.
Wahab said the decision was part of the government's response to flash floods triggered by recent heavy rainfall, which he described as an extreme weather event that produced an unusually large volume of water within a short period.
According to him, the intensity of the rainfall overwhelmed drainage channels in some parts of the state, resulting in temporary flooding in Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikeja, Gbagada, Mushin, Mafoluku and other communities.
He called for calm, assuring residents that the government was taking immediate steps to improve drainage infrastructure and mitigate future flooding.
"The rainfalls were an extreme weather event that produced an unusually high volume of water within a short period, overwhelming drainage channels in some locations and resulting in temporary flooding across parts of Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikeja, Gbagada, Mushin, Mafoluku and several other areas," the statement said.
Wahab noted that the flooding was not unique to Lagos, adding that similar heavy rainfall was recorded in other African countries and parts of North America on the same day.
He explained that Lagos faces unique hydrological challenges due to its extensive network of lagoons, rivers, creeks and tidal water bodies. According to him, the interaction between the Atlantic Ocean, Lagos Lagoon and other inland water bodies, particularly during high tide, slows the discharge of stormwater into the sea and can lead to temporary flooding in low-lying areas after exceptionally heavy rainfall.
The commissioner assured residents that the government was closely monitoring drainage infrastructure, flood-prone locations and major water channels, while emergency response agencies had been deployed to affected communities.
"The Lagos State Government remains fully on top of the situation through continuous monitoring of drainage infrastructure, flood-prone locations and other critical water channels," he said.
Wahab urged residents to support the state's flood control efforts by refraining from dumping refuse into drains and waterways, engaging in illegal wetland reclamation or constructing on drainage alignments.
He warned that such activities obstruct the free flow of stormwater and worsen flooding during periods of intense rainfall.
The commissioner also said the impact of climate change was becoming increasingly evident across the world, especially in coastal cities experiencing more frequent and intense rainfall.
"Lagos is not exempt from these realities. However, the State Government remains steadfast in its commitment to building a flood-resilient city through sustained infrastructure development, environmental enforcement and active collaboration with residents," he added.
Wahab reiterated that preventing flooding is a shared responsibility and urged residents to keep drainage channels free of waste, report activities capable of obstructing stormwater flow, avoid driving through flooded roads during heavy rainfall and comply with weather advisories and safety instructions issued by relevant government agencies.
Residents React To Widespread Flooding
The government's response follows widespread criticism from residents after heavy rainfall submerged major roads and disrupted economic activities across Lagos.
The downpour, which lasted several hours, left many roads impassable, stranded commuters, flooded homes and forced businesses to suspend operations in several parts of the state.
Communities affected included Gbagada, Iyana Ipaja, Ikorodu Road, Ikeja, Maryland, Mushin, Ogudu, Lekki, Oshodi, Agege, Alimosho and Obalende.
Many commuters were forced to trek long distances after commercial transport operators suspended services due to rising floodwaters, while several motorists abandoned broken-down vehicles on flooded roads.
The flooding also affected sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and Lekki-Epe Expressway, worsening traffic congestion across the state.