Lagos State Pins Lekki Flooding On Illegal Construction

The Lagos State government has blamed Tuesday’s flooding in Lekki on illegal construction activities and indiscriminate waste disposal, officials have confirmed. Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, sympathized with affected residents while explaining the causes in a statement on his X account.

Heavy downpours in the early hours of Tuesday led to widespread flooding, inundating roads, homes, and commercial properties. The deluge caused significant disruption to both human and vehicular movement across Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, and surrounding areas, leaving some commuters stranded until late at night.

Many residents took to social media to express frustration and called on authorities to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. Wahab acknowledged the discomfort caused by the flash floods, noting that as a coastal city, Lagos is inherently vulnerable to flooding, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall coupled with high tides.

He stressed that the state government has been investing in drainage infrastructure, regular desilting, and enforcement of environmental laws to minimize flooding risks and protect lives and property. Highlighting specific areas, Wahab said the flooding at Kusenla was due to a technical issue, where the downstream level is higher than the invert of the existing drainage, and noted that a pumping station is part of ongoing government projects to address the problem.

In contrast, flooding near House on the Rock church was linked directly to illegal construction on floodplains and blocked drainage caused by waste dumping. Wahab called on the public to maintain clean surroundings, refrain from dumping refuse into drains, and avoid building on flood-prone areas. He assured that illegal structures and obstructions would be promptly removed, including unauthorized reclamations lacking proper environmental approvals.

Wahab also confirmed that the floodwaters had receded in affected areas by Wednesday morning and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening flood management systems, emphasizing the need for residents’ cooperation.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also reassured Lagos residents that the flooding was under control. Southwest Coordinator Tunde Mohammed stated that the situation posed no immediate danger and that officers were closely monitoring developments.