The Lagos State Government has announced an ambitious two-year initiative to incorporate estate lakes, canals, and pumping stations into an integrated flood control framework aimed at mitigating flooding throughout the metropolis.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources in Lagos State, disclosed the plan on his official X platform, highlighting that the project focuses on neighborhoods most prone to flooding caused by tidal blockages.
This strategy involves establishing a Blue-Green Network that connects estate lakes, canals, and green corridors to temporarily hold and gradually discharge stormwater. This approach is designed to ease the burden on drainage infrastructure during intense rainfall events.
As part of the medium-term objectives, the government intends to deploy flap gates and pilot pumps at outfalls vulnerable to tidal influences, alongside strengthening the enforcement of canal rights-of-way, building upon previous canal rehabilitation efforts.
“Planned actions over the next 6 to 24 months include:
“Developing a Lekki Blue-Green Network that links estate lakes, canals, and green corridors to manage water storage and controlled release.
“Installing flap gates and pilot pumps at tide-sensitive discharge points.
“Enhancing enforcement of canal rights-of-way, leveraging the progress made in channel restoration,” the announcement stated.
Wahab also outlined ongoing activities from 2023 to 2025, noting that maintenance has been performed on approximately 579 kilometers of secondary drainage collectors across 693 locations, as well as 309 kilometers of primary channels.
Rapid-response teams from the Emergency Flood Action Group (EFAG) have cleared around 444 kilometers of drains, and 40.3 kilometers of previously encroached channels have been rehabilitated.
Furthermore, contracts have been awarded for the construction of 218 new drainage channels, which will add roughly 1,500 kilometers upon completion. Pump installations are underway where necessary, complemented by early-warning systems featuring daily weather forecasts and water-level monitoring.
Additional Details
In the short term, Wahab revealed intensified efforts to remove silt and debris from known flood-prone choke points. Debris screens are being fitted on culverts to prevent blockages, and pilot projects involving estate lakes and on-plot detention systems are being tested to capture excess runoff during heavy storms.
Looking ahead to the long term, spanning two to eight years, Lagos plans to introduce pumped drainage cells in the city’s lowest-lying basins.
- Secondary drainage planning will be finalized, and drainage easements will be secured to safeguard canal corridors. Restoration of critical wetlands is also planned, alongside updates to building regulations requiring major new developments to incorporate on-site water retention and detention facilities.
- Wahab underscored that Lagos’ flat, coastal terrain significantly increases its susceptibility to sudden flooding events.
He emphasized that this phased flood management approach-integrating immediate, medium-term, and long-term interventions-is crafted to minimize inconvenience for residents while enhancing the city’s resilience against climate change impacts.