By Abdullahi Lukman
Poorly designed, constructed, and maintained drainage systems are the primary cause of recurring urban flooding across Nigeria, a petroleum engineer and environmentalist, Mr. Charles Deigh, said on Monday.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Deigh explained that while climate change and heavy rainfall play a role, the core issue is ineffective drainage infrastructure.
He noted that in many cities, drains are either too small, poorly built, or clogged with waste, preventing proper flow of stormwater into canals and rivers.
“When water can’t drain properly, it floods roads, homes, and markets, causing major damage,” he said, highlighting Lagos as a severely affected state.
Recent rains in the city submerged areas like Lekki, the 3rd Mainland Bridge, and Sangotedo, damaging property worth billions of naira.
He also cited similar flooding incidents in Bayelsa, Benue, Anambra, Imo, Rivers, and Niger states.
Deigh warned that floodwaters mixed with waste and sewage can cause outbreaks of diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, especially affecting children.
He added that economic activities are heavily disrupted during floods, with destroyed goods, blocked roads, and halted transport draining government resources each year.
“Flooding is not just a natural disaster in Nigeria—it’s a result of neglect and weak governance,” Deigh said, calling for a shift from emergency response to long-term flood prevention.
He urged the government to enforce building codes, regularly clear and expand drainage channels, and improve waste management systems.
His comments follow a recent warning from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which forecast above-normal rainfall in 2025 and urged states to strengthen flood-prevention measures.
