The Lagos State Government has presented a comprehensive roadmap to address recurring flash floods across the metropolis, dismissing what it described as “simplistic suggestions” from opposition figures and stressing that flood control in the city requires a mix of science, infrastructure, and long-term planning rather than political rhetoric.
Governor’s officials noted that Lagos, home to more than 23 million residents within a landmass of just 3,577 square kilometres and 186 kilometres of Atlantic coastline, faces a unique environmental challenge. Much of the city lies close to sea level, creating natural vulnerabilities similar to those of Venice, Amsterdam, Bangkok, and Jakarta.
According to experts, the recent flooding in Lekki was the result of a “compound event” in which a heavy downpour coincided with high tide. This phenomenon, called tide-locking, occurs when the ocean or lagoon rises so high that storm drains are unable to discharge water efficiently, leading to temporary street flooding.
A Three-Part Strategy
Officials explained that the government’s long-term response is anchored on three principles:
- Water detention — temporary storage of rainfall in estate lakes, plots, or basins to ease pressure on trunk drains.
- Wider, clearer channels — ensuring water moves efficiently through secondary and primary drains.
- Control of backflow — using one-way flap gates and pumps to prevent high tides from forcing water back into the drainage system.
Current Progress (2023–2025)
Ongoing projects include:
- Maintenance of 579 kilometres of secondary collectors and 309 kilometres of primary channels.
- Clearing of 444 kilometres of drains by EFAG rapid-response teams.
- Restoration of 40.3 kilometres of encroached waterways through enforcement.
- Construction of 218 new channels, expected to add 1,500 kilometres of drainage upon completion.
- Installation of pumps at low-lying points, with the first facility at Ilubirin on Lagos Island undergoing testing.
- Early warning measures such as daily forecasts and real-time water-level monitoring.
Short, Medium, and Long-Term Measures
- Immediate actions (0–6 months): intensified silt and trash clearance at choke points such as Ajiran and Agungi, installation of debris screens, and pilot projects for estate lakes.
- Medium-term (6–24 months): creation of a Lekki Blue-Green Network linking estate lakes and canals, installation of flap gates and pilot pumps at tide-sensitive outfalls, and stricter enforcement against canal encroachment.
- Long-term (2–8 years): expansion of pumped drainage cells in the lowest basins, secondary-drain planning, protection of canal corridors, wetland restoration, and new building codes mandating on-site water detention.
Waste Management and Flood Control
The government linked solid waste management directly to flood prevention. Recent bans on Styrofoam and restrictions on single-use plastics, effective from July 2025, are expected to reduce blocked grates and drains. Plans are also underway to expand material recovery facilities and launch a 60–80 MW waste-to-energy plant in Epe to process about 2,500 tonnes of waste daily.
Daily Maintenance
Officials highlighted the role of routine street cleaning, noting that 15,000 sweepers currently maintain roads and inlets, while ongoing removal of illegal encroachments restores canal flow.
“Floods Are Driven by Physics, Not Politics”
Concluding the presentation, government representatives emphasized that climate change is the principal driver of urban flooding worldwide, citing recent flood events in Japan, Florida, and Western Europe. They cautioned against politicizing natural events, insisting that Lagos is pursuing a science-based response that combines engineering, enforcement, and public cooperation.
“The bottom line is clear,” the statement read. “Floods are driven by physics, not politics. Our task is to store, move, and control water so that rainfall, even during high tide, no longer brings disruption to Lagosians.”
