Flooding: Lagos Govt Removes 1,141 Contraventions

The Lagos State government at the weekend said it has removed about 1141 contraventions in the last one year to restore Drainage Right of Ways (ROW) across the state as part of its commitment to abate flooding in the state.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefings, which were held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Secretariat, as part of activities to mark Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second-year anniversary.

He added that the restoration of ROW and protection carried out included System 40 & 40a Alaba International Market Channel and Franklas Channel, which are 3.5 km apart; System 34B Aiyetoro/Iteku/ Ishasi Drainage Channel, Ojo LGA, which is 3.0km apart; and System 131 Odo Iraye Channel, Epe LGA, which is 2.5 km apart.

He added that from 2023 to the present, 12 primary channels with a total length of 32.5km have been restored to their original state, while another 84 secondary channels, totalling 96km, were restored in 2024. Four more primary channels have been proposed for restoration in 2025.

Wahab stated that to eliminate the problem of tidal effect, the state Government has constructed a state-of-the-art pumping station, which is recorded as the first of its kind in Africa, at Ilubirin, Lagos Island.

He explained that the pumping station is designed to pump discharged stormwater from Lagos Island into the lagoon via an elevated channel after completing the ongoing Lagos Island Drainage regeneration project.

The Commissioner said construction work is ongoing to de-flood the entire Lagos Island, with areas like Oroyinyin, Idumagbo, Binuyo, Aroloya, Epe, Ojo-giwa amongst others to benefit.

During the year under review, we issued 1674 abatement notices. We carried out 4,955 Monitoring of various environmental health infractions, while 171 premises were sealed in the process for not abating the nuisance after being served.

“The infractions are stacking of building materials on roads and drainage channels, thereby blocking free flow of stormwater, indiscriminate mixing of building materials on the roads, non-provision of toilet facilities in tenements, leading to open urination and defecation, as well as indiscriminate waste disposal”, Wahab stated.

He added that the government, through LASWAMO, has deployed three Modular Septage Pre-Treatment Plants (MSPP) that enable efficient faecal sludge treatment before discharge into the Odo Iya Alaro water body.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi—Akodu charged all residents to support the government’s efforts in making Logos safe, clean, flood-free, and sustainable.