The Lagos State Government has urged residents to stop dumping refuse on roads and into drainage channels, warning that such practices worsen flooding across the state during heavy rainfall.
The government said flash flooding remains an unavoidable reality because of Lagos’ coastal location, but insisted that its impact can be significantly reduced through proper waste disposal, continuous investment in drainage infrastructure and effective environmental management.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, explained that while flooding cannot be entirely eliminated in a coastal city like Lagos, the state is focused on minimising its effects.
“Must we always get flooded? I will tell you no. But can we realistically, as a coastal state, avoid flash flooding? I will tell you no.
“So, what do we do? There must be a balance. We must mitigate the impact of our realities,” Wahab said.
The commissioner noted that Lagos’ coastal geography makes it particularly vulnerable to heavy rainfall, rising sea levels and temporary flooding, stressing that public cooperation is essential in tackling the problem.
According to him, indiscriminate disposal of refuse remains one of the major causes of blocked drainage channels, as waste is often washed into drains during rainfall, preventing the free flow of stormwater.
Wahab said residents must recognise and confront the environmental realities associated with living in a coastal state instead of ignoring them.
“People tried to run away from the elephant in the room. And what is the elephant? The elephant in the room is: Lagos is a coastal state, and we’re exposed to the vagaries of climate change; we can’t run away from it,” he said.
He explained that some parts of Lagos are located below sea level, making them especially vulnerable to flash floods during periods of intense rainfall and high tides.
According to Wahab, rising sea levels linked to climate change often delay the discharge of stormwater into the sea, resulting in temporary flooding in several communities.
“Some parts of Lagos are below sea level, and once there’s climate change, there’s excessive rain. There’s excessive heat, and there’s tidal lock, because there’s a sea level rise.
“Once the sea level is up, your stormwater naturally will not discharge. It will hold back for maybe one or two hours. And that’s why we say to Lagosians: please, don’t panic. This water will recede within one or two hours,”the commissioner noted.
Wahab added that the state government has continued to invest in resilient infrastructure aimed at improving flood management and reducing the effects of extreme weather events.
“On our part, we’ve provided resilient infrastructure statewide, and we’re still providing the same,” he noted.
The commissioner reiterated that although flash flooding cannot be completely prevented in a coastal city like Lagos, consistent investment in drainage systems and responsible environmental practices by residents will help minimise its impact.
His remarks come after widespread flash flooding affected several parts of Lagos over the past two weeks.
In response to the flooding, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the immediate dredging and maintenance of 28 additional primary drainage channels across the state as part of efforts to strengthen flood control measures.
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