Flooding: Lagos property owners build on drainage channels despite govt notices

The Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, in its effort to tackle flooding in the state, has commenced an enforcement initiative aimed at reclaiming a vital drainage channel known as the System 1 Drainage Channel midstream in Ojota and Ogudu.

The Ministry’s commissioner, Tokunbo Wahab, who tweets as tokunbo_wahab on X.com disclosed this in a post on Monday.

He stated that an inspection on Sunday revealed that property owners were building new structures within the designated areas.

Wahab stated that System 1, established in 1974, stands as the largest primary channel responsible for alleviating flood-related challenges in major parts of Lagos mainland, including Ogudu, Ojota, Ifako, Gbagada, and Maryland.

He wrote, “Yesterday, I led the management on an inspection tour to the enforcement sites of the ongoing reclamation of 140 meters Right of Way for System 1 Drainage Channel midstream (Odo Iya Alaro) Ojota and Ogudu to ascertain the level of compliance by property owners and the extent of work.

“This drainage channel, which is very important to Lagos State, will address major flooding issues on the mainland and its environs.”

Wahab stated that contravention notices had been served to property owners in the area since 2021 to encourage voluntary compliance; however, some disregarded the notices and continued construction within the designated area.