As recurring floods continue to disrupt lives, destroy property and expose the vulnerabilities of Lagos’ urban planning, the Chief Operating Officer of Gracias Global Homes and Properties Ltd, Dr. Wale Ponnle, has called for stronger community involvement in exposing illegal developments that worsen the state’s flood challenge.

Ponnle, who also heads the Strategy and Planning Committee of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Lagos Chapter, said residents and community leaders must become the first line of defence against environmental violations by promptly reporting illegal construction, land reclamation and sand-filling activities capable of obstructing natural waterways and drainage channels.

Speaking with journalists, he argued that while the Lagos State Government has invested significantly in drainage infrastructure, flood control projects and environmental management, such efforts would achieve limited results without active public participation.

He commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, for strengthening drainage infrastructure and tightening regulatory frameworks guiding physical planning and urban development.
According to him, the state has also improved transparency in building and planning permit approvals to ensure construction projects comply with environmental and planning standards.
“The reality is that flooding in Lagos is not merely a natural disaster; it is often the consequence of human actions and collective negligence. This is why the fight against flooding must move beyond government offices and become a community-driven responsibility,” he said.

Ponnle urged the state government to institutionalise a structured community whistle-blowing system that empowers traditional rulers, community development associations and residents to report illegal developments immediately they are detected instead of relying solely on periodic inspections by government agencies.

He warned that many Lagos residents either do not understand the connection between illegal developments and flooding or underestimate the wider consequences of blocked drainage channels, reclaimed wetlands and obstructed waterways.

To improve enforcement, he proposed the establishment of multiple reporting channels, including dedicated telephone hotlines, WhatsApp platforms, mobile applications and online portals to enable residents report suspected environmental violations quickly.

“The battle against flooding begins long before the first raindrop falls. It begins when a resident notices sand being dumped into a drainage channel and reports it. It begins when a community leader raises an alarm about unauthorised reclamation activities. It begins when citizens understand that environmental violations are not private matters but public threats,” he said.

Ponnle also advocated sustained public enlightenment campaigns on flood prevention and environmental responsibility, stressing that awareness efforts should be continuous rather than limited to the rainy season.

According to him, television, radio, newspapers, social media, schools, religious organisations and community meetings should be deployed to educate residents on protecting waterways and complying with approved building regulations.

He added that greater public understanding of the state’s planning approval process would reduce illegal construction and improve compliance with environmental regulations.

“When government and citizens work together, illegal developments can be stopped before they become disasters. And when communities become the first line of defence against environmental violations, Lagos moves one step closer to winning its long-standing battle against flooding,” he said.

Ponnle noted that global experience has shown that environmental protection is most effective when citizens actively support government efforts, urging Lagos to strengthen partnerships between regulators and communities to build a more resilient and flood-safe city.

This version gives the story a stronger public-interest angle, with the flooding crisis leading the narrative while integrating Ponnle’s recommendations naturally throughout.