Don’t politicize flooding – Lagos govt tells critics

The  Lagos State Government insists that persistent interventions on drainage systems, wetlands, and floodplains have vastly minimized the impact of heavy downpours across the state. Despite the growing challenges of climate change, officials have warned detractors against leveraging seasonal flash floods for political leverage.

While reviewing drainage networks and flood-vulnerable zones—including Oniru, Chevron Drive, Agungi-Ajiran, Freedom Road, and Orange Island—the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources countered public dissatisfaction. He labeled the intense scrutiny and allegations of state neglect as unacceptable, defending the constant dedication of emergency teams working to control the deluge.

The commissioner said, “Yes, they are politicising it, but that is what they want to do this season. They are not giving this team enough flowers for the work they have been doing. I know the effort they put in day and night.

“Three years ago, when we saw the reports, we took them methodically—from waste management to banning styrofoam; banning certain plastics; removing contraventions on floodplains; pushing back on wetlands; and providing more drainage infrastructure.

“If you listen to the president of Ghana’s speech last week when flooding happened in Accra, everything we have done in Lagos for three years are those things they are about to start doing in Accra.

“So that can tell you how we have been able to manage what we have in Lagos. What we have is not overflowing flooding; it is flash flooding here and there. Time-stamp it and go back there in a few hours.”