latest reports suggest that the Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to integrate estate lakes, canals, and pumps into a comprehensive flood management system within the next 24 months, aiming to reduce flooding across the city.
Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, made this known via his official X account, emphasizing that the initiative targets areas most vulnerable to tide-locked flooding.
Acccording to Wahab, the plan is expected to create a Blue-Green Network linking estate lakes, canals, and green corridors to temporarily store and gradually release rainwater, preventing drainage systems from being overwhelmed during heavy rainfall.
The medium-term strategy also includes installing flap gates and pilot pumps at tide-sensitive outfalls and intensifying enforcement of canal rights-of-way, building on canal restoration work already completed.
“Next steps (6–24 months), we will build a Lekki Blue-Green Network linking estate lakes, canals, and green corridors to store and slowly release water,”he said. “We will also Install flap gates and pilot pumps at the most tide-sensitive outfalls,”.
He further stated that efforts will be made to Intensify enforcement of canal rights-of-way and channel restoration.
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Wahab highlighted actions already underway between 2023 and 2025. He noted that maintenance has been conducted on roughly 579 km of secondary collectors across 693 sites and 309 km of primary channels.
He explained that emergency Flood Action Group (EFAG) rapid-response teams have cleared about 444 km of drains, while 40.3 km of encroached channels have been restored.
“In addition, 218 new channels have been awarded for construction, adding around 1,500 km when completed,”he said. “Pumps are being installed where needed, and early-warning measures, including daily forecasts and water-level monitoring, are in place,”.
Story was adapted from Nairametrics.
