According to the Lagos State Government, current measures to control and prevent flooding have achieved an estimated 75 to 80 percent success rate, with future projections aimed at scaling the performance up to 95 percent.
The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Saturday, November 7, after an inspection tour of Odo Iya Alaro, Surulere and Osborne Foreshore.
Wahab said the government remained committed to protecting drainage infrastructure, enforcing environmental regulations and addressing the causes of flooding across the state.
In a statement via his X handle, the commissioner said the inspection reinforced the need to prevent drainage encroachment and protect approved drainage alignments.
“I reaffirmed our zero tolerance for drainage encroachment and the need to protect approved drainage alignments and legitimate property rights,” he said.
He attributed the progress recorded in flood mitigation to interventions aimed at improving drainage infrastructure and enforcing environmental regulations.
“Our flood mitigation efforts have recorded between 75 and 80 per cent success, and we are working towards achieving 90–95 per cent through resilient drainage infrastructure, year-round interventions and stricter enforcement,” Wahab said.
The commissioner, however, noted that Lagos’s coastal location made it unrealistic to completely eliminate flooding, adding that the government was working to tackle its underlying causes.
“While Lagos’s coastal location makes complete elimination of flooding unrealistic, we remain deliberate in addressing its root causes, including blocked drainage channels and indiscriminate waste disposal,” he said.
Wahab urged residents to observe drainage setbacks, avoid indiscriminate waste disposal and report illegal encroachments to the relevant authorities.
He said environmental sustainability required the cooperation of residents, adding that collective efforts were necessary to make Lagos cleaner, safer and more resilient to flooding.
What You Should Know
The Lagos State Government has reported major progress in its battle against seasonal flooding, achieving up to 80 percent success following intensive infrastructure inspections and drainage clearing. State authorities are targeting even higher resilience through continuous enforcement of environmental laws and protection of drainage channels.
- Positive Impact: Residents in flood-prone areas will experience better water drainage, reduced property damage, and safer commuting during heavy downpours as infrastructure improves.
- Potential Concerns: Complete elimination of flooding remains difficult due to Lagos’s coastal geography, meaning citizens must still strictly avoid dumping refuse in unauthorized places and respect drainage setbacks.
