The Lagos State Government has warned residents to stop dumping refuse on roads and inside drainage channels, stressing that flash flooding cannot be completely avoided because of the State’s coastal location.
Authorities, however, assured residents that efforts are ongoing to reduce the impact of flooding through massive investments in drainage infrastructure, flood control projects and environmental management initiatives.
Speaking on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, explained that the State’s geography makes it highly vulnerable to heavy rainfall and temporary flooding.
“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 stressed that residents also have an important role to play by disposing of waste properly, warning that indiscriminate dumping of refuse often blocks drainage channels and worsens flooding during heavy rains.
According to him, Lagos must accept and confront the environmental realities that come with being a coastal city rather than ignore 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.
Wahab further explained that some parts of the State are located below sea level, making them particularly vulnerable during periods of intense rainfall and high tides.
He noted that rising sea levels caused by climate change often create tidal locks that temporarily prevent stormwater from flowing into the sea.
“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,” he added.
The Commissioner said the state government had continued to invest in resilient infrastructure across Lagos to strengthen flood management and reduce the effects of extreme weather events.
His comments come in the wake of the flash floods recorded across several parts of Lagos over the past two weeks.
Following the incidents, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the immediate dredging and maintenance of 28 additional primary drainage channels across the State.
