Community Partnership Crucial to Tackling Flood in Lagos, Says Ponnle

Wale Ponnle, Chief Operating Officer of Gracias Global Homes & Properties Ltd, has called for a more robust partnership between Lagos communities and government agencies to address the city's ongoing flooding issues. Ponnle asserted that tackling the persistent challenge of flooding cannot be solely the responsibility of the government, highlighting the critical role of community involvement.

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The reality is that flooding in Lagos is not merely a natural disaster; it is often the consequence of human actions and collective negligence.

Ponnle, who also chairs the Strategy and Planning Committee of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Lagos Chapter, urged community leaders to act as environmental watchdogs. He tasked them with reporting illegal construction, land reclamation, and sand-filling activities that obstruct natural waterways, emphasizing that flooding in Lagos is frequently a consequence of human actions and collective negligence.

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This is why the fight against flooding must move beyond government offices and become a community-driven responsibility.

While commending Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, for their investments in drainage infrastructure and flood control, Ponnle stressed that enforcement requires grassroots participation. He proposed accessible reporting mechanisms, such as hotlines, WhatsApp platforms, mobile applications, and online portals, to enable residents to alert authorities about violations.

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The battle against flooding begins long before the first raindrop falls. It begins when a resident notices sand being dumped into a drainage channel and reports it.

Ponnle believes that the battle against flooding begins long before the rain, starting when a resident reports environmental violations. He advocated for continuous public education through various media channels and community meetings to foster understanding of the causes of flooding. He concluded that when government and citizens collaborate effectively, illegal developments can be halted, and communities can act as the first line of defense, moving Lagos closer to overcoming its long-standing battle against flooding.

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When government and citizens work together, illegal developments can be stopped before they become disasters. And when communities become the first line of defence against environmental violations, Lagos moves one step closer to winning its long-standing battle against flooding.