The Lagos State Government has promised to keep fighting flooding in the city by clearing blocked drainage paths and building strong infrastructure across the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said this during a media briefing after visiting a 4.2-kilometre drainage construction project in Ikeja and Kosofe areas.
Wahab explained that the project, which began in 2024, will be done in stages. The section from Sheraton to Ojota is already 45% complete. The entire project should be finished in 24 months.
He said the new drainage system, shaped like a trapezoid and 25 meters wide, will carry water downstream and pass under the new bridge in Maryland.
Wahab added that residents across the state have shared positive feedback since the rainy season began, which shows the benefits of the ongoing drainage and canal cleaning throughout the year.
He said that another important part of the project is at the Ogudu area, which involves installing strong metal sheets (sheet piling) to support the drainage system. He stressed that these sheets should be ready before work starts.
He explained that the Odo Iyalaro (System 1) project has three main parts: one starting from Ogba, another behind Sheraton, and the third meeting point is under the Maryland bridge.
He added that the work will go from Sheraton Bridge back to Maryland, and new roads will be built beside it by the Ministry of Infrastructure. The entire project will take 24 months to complete.
Wahab warned people to stop building or dumping waste in drainage paths. He said the government would take serious action against anyone who keeps doing this.
Finally, Wahab said that some houses near the Ogudu part of the project are turning parts of their area into illegal dumps. He ordered that notices be sent to those responsible, warning them to stop immediately.
He said if they don’t act now, there could be a large, illegal dumpsite in the future, which the government wants to avoid.
