The Lagos State Government says its drainage interventions have reduced flooding impacts and urged critics not to politicise the issue.
Lagos Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab made the remarks on 3 July after inspecting flood-prone sites including Oniru, Chevron Drive, Agungi-Ajiran, Freedom Road and Orange Island.
Wahab said three years of work on waste management, bans on Styrofoam and certain plastics, removal of encroachments from floodplains and wetlands, plus new drainage infrastructure had limited damage from recent heavy rains. He noted visible improvements within 72 hours after clearing channels at Chevron Drive and Gravitas despite resistance from armed police.
The commissioner also highlighted plans to add 140 to 150 waste compactors and launch material recovery facilities by year-end that would handle more than 4,000 tonnes of waste daily. He stressed ongoing prosecution of illegal dumping and collaboration with local councils on infrastructure maintenance.
