By Uchechi Afonne
The Association of Scrap and Waste Pickers of Lagos (ASWOL) has identified poor drainage maintenance, indiscriminate waste disposal and weak land-use enforcement as major drivers of recurring flooding across Lagos.
The President of ASWOL, Mr Friday Oku, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos while assessing factors responsible for persistent flooding during the peak of the rainy season.
He said heavy rainfall only exposed longstanding weaknesses in drainage infrastructure, environmental management and urban planning.
According to him, many drainage channels are undersized, ageing and poorly maintained, reducing their capacity to accommodate increasing stormwater volumes.
Oku said weak enforcement of physical planning regulations had encouraged construction on drainage channels and floodplains, obstructing natural water flow and worsening flooding.
He added that infrastructure development had failed to keep pace with Lagos’ rapid population growth, making many areas vulnerable even during moderate rainfall.
He also warned that rising sea levels and tidal influences were increasing flood risks in coastal communities across the state.
Oku urged the government to adopt an integrated flood risk management approach rather than relying mainly on emergency responses after flooding.
He advocated stricter enforcement of land-use regulations and called for the integration of informal waste pickers into the state’s waste management system to improve refuse collection in underserved communities.
According to him, waste pickers can complement Private Sector Participants, particularly in inner communities where regular waste collection remains inadequate.
Oku also recommended regular drainage maintenance, stronger early warning systems and greater investment in retention ponds, permeable surfaces and urban green spaces.
He urged residents to stop dumping refuse into drainage channels and advised developers to comply with planning regulations.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, attributed flooding recorded in parts of the state to a rise in lagoon water levels.
In a post on his X handle, Wahab said the lagoon level had risen by about one metre, preventing stormwater from draining freely from channels into the lagoon.
He explained that the development had resulted in temporary flooding in some parts of the state.
According to him, accumulated stormwater is expected to recede as rainfall reduces and the lagoon water level gradually falls.
The commissioner urged residents to remain calm and exercise caution, assuring them that relevant government agencies were monitoring the situation and implementing measures to minimise the impact of the flooding. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma