The Lagos State Government has maintained that sustained investments in drainage infrastructure, wetlands restoration and floodplain management have significantly reduced the impact of heavy rainfall across the state, despite the increasing effects of climate change.
The government also accused critics of politicising seasonal flash flooding, warning against using weather-related incidents to score political points.
Speaking during an inspection of drainage channels and flood-prone areas, including Oniru, Chevron Drive, Agungi-Ajiran, Freedom Road and Orange Island, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources dismissed claims that the government had failed to address flooding, insisting that emergency response teams have continued to work tirelessly to minimise its impact.
“Yes, they are politicising it, but that is what they want to do this season. They are not giving this team enough credit for the work they have been doing. I know the effort they put in day and night,” the commissioner said.
He noted that the state had adopted a systematic approach to flood control over the past three years, implementing a series of environmental reforms and infrastructure projects.
“Three years ago, when we saw the reports, we tackled them methodically—from improving waste management to banning styrofoam and certain plastic products, removing illegal structures on floodplains, reclaiming wetlands and expanding drainage infrastructure,” he said.
The commissioner added that Lagos had taken proactive steps that other African cities are only beginning to adopt.
“If you listened to the President of Ghana’s speech last week after the flooding in Accra, many of the measures we have implemented in Lagos over the past three years are exactly what they are now planning to introduce there.
“That shows how we have managed the situation in Lagos. What we experience is not widespread flooding but isolated flash floods, which usually recede within a few hours. Time-stamp it and return to those locations later—you will see the water has gone,” he said.
