Residents of vulnerable communities had been reached through traditional and social media platforms, while the state government was continuing to invest in flood-management infrastructure
By Moses Okorie
The Federal Government has urged residents of Lagos State to stop dumping refuse in drainage channels, warning that poor waste management could worsen flooding across the state.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, gave the warning during an inspection of flood-prone areas and water infrastructure in Lagos.
Utsev said tackling flooding could not be left to government alone, stressing the need for residents to take responsibility for keeping drainage channels clear and protecting public infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Friday, the minister said the Lagos assessment formed part of a nationwide exercise to identify challenges relating to water, sanitation, hygiene and flooding across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the exercise would provide government with the information needed to develop practical and lasting interventions in partnership with state governments, development partners and private-sector stakeholders.
Describing Lagos as one of Africa’s fastest-growing urban centres, Utsev said the state’s development had important implications for Nigeria’s economy and the wider continent.
He praised the Lagos State Government, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority for their efforts to improve flood control and water resources management.
The minister singled out the Ilubirin Mechanical Pumping Station as an example of how engineering infrastructure could be deployed to manage excess water and reduce flood risks.
He said further interventions would be based on detailed engineering assessments and designs to determine their scope, estimated costs and implementation timelines.
Utsev also disclosed that the Federal Government would consider incorporating hydropower generation into future water infrastructure projects where the technical conditions permit.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, said flood-control measures were being developed around scientific forecasts and hydrological information.
He said the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook had predicted above-normal rainfall in several parts of Nigeria, urging residents and relevant authorities to remain alert.
Mohammed called for stronger early-warning systems, faster dissemination of flood forecasts and timely preventive measures to minimise casualties and damage.
The Lagos State Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, said the state had issued early-warning messages to residents ahead of the rainy season.
He explained that the advisories were informed by forecasts from NiMet and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
According to him, residents of vulnerable communities had been reached through traditional and social media platforms, while the state government was continuing to invest in flood-management infrastructure.
Rotimi-Akodu said the Ilubirin Mechanical Pumping Station had helped reduce flooding in some parts of Lagos Island.
A resident of Ilo-Awela in Alimosho Local Government Area, Mr Lawal Sunday, commended previous erosion-control projects carried out by the state government.
He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to expedite the proposed bridge project in the community, saying it would improve access and ease transportation difficulties for residents.
He also supported calls for continued public awareness campaigns against indiscriminate refuse disposal.
The inspection team visited the Ilubirin Mechanical Pumping Station, Signal Barracks Primary Drainage Channel in Ajegunle, System 5 Drainage Channel in Apapa-Iganmu LCDA, Ilo-Awela River and other flood-related sites.
The Federal Government said the exercise would help strengthen flood-prevention strategies and improve collaboration among government agencies and other stakeholders in protecting Lagos communities from the effects of flooding.