The Lagos State Government has restated its unwavering commitment to tackling flooding across the metropolis through the restoration of drainage Right-of-Ways (RoWs) and the deployment of resilient infrastructure.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the ongoing 4.2-kilometre concrete lining drainage project traversing Ikeja and Kosofe Local Government Areas, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, assured residents that the government will continue to confront flooding challenges head-on.
“We are addressing the issue of flooding frontally by restoring the drainage rights-of-way and ensuring that robust infrastructure is in place to manage storm water across the state,” Wahab said.The project, awarded in 2024, is being executed in phases.
According to the Commissioner, the Sheraton to Ojota section of the project is currently 45% completed, while the entire stretch is scheduled for completion within 24 months.
The drainage system, which includes a 25-metre-wide trapezoidal channel, is designed to discharge stormwater downstream, passing underneath the newly constructed bridge in the Maryland area.
Wahab noted that residents have commended the state for its continuous year-round desilting, dredging, and maintenance of drainage systems, which have significantly mitigated flooding incidents since the onset of the 2025 rainy season.
The Commissioner highlighted the Ogudu Sheet Piling Section as the most technically demanding part of the project. “Contractors have been directed to ensure all necessary sheet piles are in place ahead of installation to maintain project timelines,” he stated.
Providing further details, Wahab explained: “There are three main legs to the Odo Iyalaro (System 1) project—one from Ogba, another from behind Sheraton, and a third converging around the Maryland bridge.
The project will also feature access roads to be constructed by the Ministry of Infrastructure.”He added that the government has reclaimed the Maryland–Mende–Arowojobe drainage corridor, previously plagued by encroachments and frequent flooding, and has now re-established the RoW with infrastructure to facilitate proper stormwater discharge.
During the tour, Wahab visited the Adisa Balogun Channel in Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, following a tip-off about illegal construction on the drainage alignment. He promptly ordered abatement notices to be served on violators.
“We continue to appeal to members of the public to stop encroaching on drainage alignments. Where necessary, we will not hesitate to take strict enforcement actions,” he warned.
Wahab also issued directives for abatement notices to be served on households observed to be creating makeshift refuse dumps near the Ogudu (Odo-Iya Alaro downstream) area.
“We will not allow a situation where informal dumpsites spring up overnight,” he cautioned.On the enforcement of the ban on Single-Use Plastics (SUPs), Wahab said the state government had conducted 18 months of advocacy and stakeholder engagement prior to the enforcement drive that began recently in selected markets across the Island and Mainland.
“The enforcement will be sustained and extended to all markets across the state,” he said. “We will also scale up public enlightenment efforts through radio, television, and social media.
”The inspection team included key government officials such as the Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Permanent Secretary, Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji; Permanent Secretary, Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; MD of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin; KAI Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd); GM of LASWMO, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi, among others.Locations visited included: System 1 (Odo-Iya Alaro, Sheraton to Ojota section) Ogudu Sheet Pile Section, Agboyi-Ketu (Adisa Balogun Channel).
The Lagos State Government reaffirmed its resolve to ensure that environmental sustainability and urban resilience remain at the forefront of its development agenda.
