Get Guardian on GoogleThe Lagos State Government has intensified enforcement against encroachment on drainage channels and public rights-of-way, warning property owners, developers and other residents to comply with approved building regulations as it targets between 90 and 95 per cent success in its flood mitigation efforts.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, gave the warning during an inspection of strategic locations across the state to assess complaints of drainage obstruction, verify construction compliance and protect critical environmental infrastructure.
The inspection covered Oregun Mixed-Use Scheme, Odo Iya Alaro by Opebi Link Bridge, Modupe Johnson Crescent, off Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere, and Osborne Foreshore Phase II Estate, Ikoyi.
At Oregun, Wahab addressed complaints by property owners with valid Lagos State approvals and Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) who alleged that automobile mechanics and other commercial operators had encroached on their properties along System 1 drainage alignment.
He said the government would re-establish the boundaries of affected properties and ensure that legitimate landowners had unhindered access to their assets. He also directed the mechanics occupying the disputed lands to vacate the premises.
According to him, government-approved land titles remain secure, provided owners comply with the conditions and boundaries attached to their allocations.
At Surulere, the commissioner investigated petitions alleging that an ongoing Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) project was obstructing a drainage right-of-way and could worsen flooding in the neighbourhood.
Following physical measurements conducted at the site in the presence of stakeholders and journalists, Wahab said the development maintained the required distance from the drainage corridor.
He also confirmed that the culvert constructed at the location complied with the ministry’s approved specifications.
At Osborne Foreshore Phase II Estate, the team inspected a disputed construction site at Abba Court, Mahogany Close, following complaints by residents about alleged drainage obstruction and environmental violations by the developer, Kenshad International Limited.
The inspection followed controversy over an earlier visit by the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who was reportedly denied access to the premises on October 31 after waiting outside the locked gates for more than 30 minutes.
Officials examined the drainage arrangements and the positioning of high-tension electrical cables, with Wahab stating that the assessment found no violation of approved requirements that could compromise communal safety.
Speaking on the state’s flood management strategy, the commissioner said Lagos had achieved between 75 and 80 per cent success in mitigating flooding but was targeting 90 to 95 per cent through sustained infrastructure investment and enforcement.
He, however, cautioned against expecting a complete elimination of flooding, explaining that Lagos’ coastal location, low-lying areas, rising sea levels and tidal movements made some communities vulnerable to temporary flash floods.
Wahab said tidal lock, which occurs when rising water levels prevent stormwater from discharging freely into larger water bodies, could cause temporary flooding during intense rainfall.
He urged residents to remain calm during such occurrences, noting that floodwaters would recede once drainage systems could discharge effectively.
He identified the year-round deployment of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG), investment in resilient drainage infrastructure, the ban on Styrofoam food containers and efforts to phase out single-use plastics as key government interventions.
The commissioner also urged residents to stop indiscriminate waste disposal, respect drainage setbacks and report suspected encroachments, stressing that public cooperation remained essential to effective flood management.
He disclosed that subsequent inspection exercises would cover Olusosun and Solus II as the government sustains efforts to protect drainage infrastructure and build a more flood-resilient Lagos.
