Lagos to Remove Illegal Structures Blocking Drainage Channels on Agungi, Ajiran

The Lagos State Government has announced an immediate crackdown on illegal structures blocking critical drainage channels in the Agungi, Ajiran, and Ikota areas. The move aims to eliminate perennial flooding that has plagued the communities, despite significant investment in drainage infrastructure.

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We discovered that the outlet into the lagoon had been deliberately blocked; Without opening that channel, the water cannot leave the area. We have therefore directed that it be reopened immediately in the overriding public interest.

During an inspection tour, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, identified a major obstruction at the Ajiran outfall channel. He discovered that a land-owning family had illegally blocked the channel, preventing stormwater from flowing into the Lagos Lagoon. This obstruction significantly impairs the drainage system's effectiveness.

"We discovered that the outlet into the lagoon had been deliberately blocked; Without opening that channel, the water cannot leave the area. We have therefore directed that it be reopened immediately in the overriding public interest," Wahab stated. He emphasized that while land ownership is recognized, it does not grant the right to obstruct natural watercourses or public drainage systems that serve thousands of residents.

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No one is above the law; having title to land does not give anyone the authority to close a drainage channel or water body that serves thousands of residents; We are not taking anyone’s land; we are simply restoring the channel to allow water flow into the lagoon.

The commissioner warned that residents ultimately suffer the consequences of blocked channels through severe flooding. He stressed that taxpayer money is used to construct and maintain these channels, and residents should not exacerbate the problem. The government is committed to reopening all blocked drainage channels to ensure proper water flow and mitigate flooding.

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You can imagine the level of flooding within the community, and eventually government gets blamed for inadequate infrastructure; Taxpayers’ money is being used to construct and maintain these drainage channels; Residents should not make the situation worse by blocking them; We will continue to open up blocked drainage channels wherever they are.