Lagos: The Federal Government has urged Lagos residents to support flood mitigation efforts by avoiding indiscriminate waste disposal into drainage channels, saying poor waste management contributes to urban flooding. The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made the call during an assessment visit to flood-prone communities and critical water infrastructure in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, in a statement on Friday, Utsev said effective flood management required collective responsibility, urging residents to protect drainage infrastructure and maintain a clean environment. He stated that the assessment was part of a nationwide initiative to identify water, sanitation, hygiene, and flood-related challenges across the 36 states and the FCT.
The minister emphasized that the exercise would help the government develop practical and sustainable solutions in collaboration with state governments, development partners, and the private sector. Utsev highlighted Lagos as one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities, noting that developments in the state had significant implications for Nigeria and the continent.
He commended the Lagos Government, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), and Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority for their measures aimed at mitigating flooding and improving water resources management. The minister also praised the Ilubirin Mechanical Pumping Station as a practical engineering solution for managing excess floodwater.
Utsev mentioned that comprehensive engineering assessments and designs would guide decisions on the scope, cost, and timelines of additional interventions. He added that the government would explore opportunities for integrating hydropower generation into future water infrastructure projects where technically feasible.
The Director-General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, stated that flood mitigation efforts were being guided by scientific forecasts and hydrological data. Mohammed noted that the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook projected above-normal rainfall across many parts of the country. He urged stakeholders to sustain vigilance, early-warning dissemination, and proactive responses to minimize the impact of possible flooding.
Also speaking, Lagos Special Adviser on Environment, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, said the state had issued early-warning advisories ahead of the rainy season. He explained that the advisories were based on forecasts from agencies including the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
Rotimi-Akodu stated that residents in vulnerable communities had been sensitized through conventional and digital media platforms, while the state continued investments in flood-management infrastructure. He noted that the Ilubirin Mechanical Pumping Station had helped reduce flooding in parts of Lagos Island.
A resident of Ilo-Awela in Alimosho Local Government Area, Mr. Lawal Sunday, expressed appreciation for the state government’s previous erosion-control interventions and appealed to the Federal Government to expedite construction of a proposed bridge serving the community. He remarked that the project would improve access and reduce hardship for residents, while urging continued public enlightenment against indiscriminate waste disposal.
The delegation inspected 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 facilities.