By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has accused critics of politicising flooding in the state, insisting that government interventions have reduced the impact of heavy rainfall despite the effects of climate change.
Wahab made the remarks on Saturday during an inspection of drainage channels and flood-prone areas, including Oniru, Chevron Drive, Agungi-Ajiran, Freedom Road and Orange Island, days after flash floods submerged parts of Lagos and drew criticism of the state’s flood management efforts.
He said the removal of encroachments along drainage channels around Chevron Drive and Gravitas had improved water discharge within 72 hours, easing flooding in Ajiran Village and neighbouring communities.
According to him, some land grabbers attempted to stop officials from reopening blocked drainage channels with the backing of armed policemen, but the government successfully carried out the exercise.
Wahab said the state had, over the past three years, implemented measures including the ban on Styrofoam and selected plastic products, removal of structures on floodplains and wetlands, and expansion of drainage infrastructure to mitigate flooding.
He maintained that Lagos experiences flash flooding rather than prolonged flooding and said the government’s interventions had significantly improved the situation.
The commissioner said the inspection also aimed to assess drainage infrastructure, engage residents and identify areas requiring permanent engineering solutions.
He disclosed that officials revisited a site where an illegal land reclamation project had earlier been halted because it serves as a major drainage outlet into the lagoon.
Wahab added that the state was partnering with local government councils to deliver drainage infrastructure beyond their financial capacity before handing over completed projects for maintenance.
On indiscriminate waste disposal, he said the government would continue prosecuting offenders while strengthening waste collection through the Lagos Waste Management Authority and private sector operators.
He added that the state plans to deploy between 140 and 150 additional waste compactors and establish material recovery facilities and transfer stations, which are expected to divert more than 4,000 tonnes of waste daily from landfills.
