RismadarVoice Reporters
July 4, 2026
The Lagos State Government has urged residents and critics not to politicise flooding in the state, insisting that ongoing investments in drainage infrastructure, floodplain restoration and environmental enforcement have significantly reduced the impact of heavy rainfall.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the appeal after inspecting drainage channels and flood-prone locations, including Oniru, Chevron Drive, Agungi-Ajiran, Freedom Road and Orange Island.
According to Wahab, while recent heavy rains triggered flash floods in parts of the metropolis, the government’s interventions have prevented more severe flooding despite the growing effects of climate change.
He criticised attempts to blame the government for every flooding incident, describing such reactions as politically motivated and unfair to officials working around the clock to tackle environmental challenges.
The commissioner said the state had, over the past three years, implemented strategic reforms, including improved waste management, bans on styrofoam and certain single-use plastics, removal of illegal structures on floodplains, protection of wetlands and expansion of drainage infrastructure.
He noted that these initiatives had positioned Lagos ahead of several African cities in flood management, adding that recent flooding in Accra, Ghana, underscored the importance of similar measures.
Wahab also disclosed that government efforts to remove encroachments along drainage channels around Chevron Drive and Gravitas had already improved water discharge into the lagoon, reducing flooding in Ajiran and surrounding communities.
He reiterated that illegal reclamation of wetlands and blockage of natural drainage routes would not be tolerated, stressing that such activities worsen flooding and threaten public safety.
On drainage infrastructure within residential areas, the commissioner explained that the state was partnering with local government councils to execute major projects beyond their financial capacity before handing over completed facilities for maintenance.
Addressing concerns over indiscriminate waste disposal, Wahab said the government would continue prosecuting offenders while strengthening waste collection services across the state.
He revealed that Lagos plans to deploy between 140 and 150 additional waste compactors and accelerate the development of material recovery facilities and transfer stations to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills.
According to him, the new waste management facilities are expected to divert more than 4,000 tonnes of waste daily, easing pressure on the state’s waste disposal system and supporting long-term environmental sustainability.
