DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Environment & Climate

Greedy sand-filling causing Lagos floods, says Bode George

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A Nigerian politician blames "greedy" sand-filling of the Lagos Lagoon for persistent flooding in Lagos.
  • Bode George argues that extensive land reclamation has reduced the lagoon's capacity to absorb stormwater.
  • He warns that the lagoon's elevated level compared to roads now prevents natural drainage, worsening flood conditions.

Persistent flooding in parts of Lagos is being blamed on indiscriminate and "greedy" sand-filling of the Lagos Lagoon, according to former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George. In an interview, George stated that large areas of Ikoyi and Lekki, which were once surrounded by water, have been significantly altered by land reclamation projects, leading to evident environmental consequences.

My fear now is that the lagoon has been sand-filled to a senseless level. If you get to the IBB Bridge, you’ll notice that the level of the lagoon is now higher than the road.

— Bode GeorgeExpressing concern about the elevated water level of the Lagos Lagoon due to sand-filling.

George recalled that areas like Ikoyi were originally sandfields extending to Falomo, and while historical documentation is scarce, he remembers the landscape vividly. He emphasized that Lekki villages predated the extensive sand-filling that connected parts of the area to Ikoyi, noting that the entire stretch was once water. This extensive reclamation, he argues, has drastically reduced the lagoon's ability to manage stormwater, exacerbating flooding across the state.

When it rains, the water is supposed to flow into the lagoon, but they have narrowed it through greedy sand-filling, with everybody thinking they are building waterfront properties without considering the environmental impact.

— Bode GeorgeExplaining how sand-filling has disrupted natural drainage patterns and worsened flooding.

His primary concern is that the lagoon has been filled to an "unreasonable level." George observed that near the IBB Bridge, the lagoon's water level now exceeds the road's elevation. This reversal of the natural drainage pattern, he explained, makes it impossible for rainwater to flow into the lagoon without mechanical pumping systems. "When it rains, the water is supposed to flow into the lagoon, but they have narrowed it through greedy sand-filling, with everybody thinking they are building waterfront properties without considering the environmental impact," George stated, highlighting the critical issue of natural drainage being compromised.

The lagoon is now higher than the road. So when it rains, how do you expect the water to flow into the lagoon without pumps? You must be kidding.

— Bode GeorgeHighlighting the impossibility of natural drainage without mechanical assistance due to the altered lagoon level.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog