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By Grace Egbunuekhe and Akpati Ezekiel
The Lagos State Government has intensified its flood control campaign with the deployment of a newly acquired swamp buggy to strategic flood-prone communities in the state, as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of the ongoing rainy season.
The specialised equipment has been deployed to the Ogombo Canal in Awoyaya, Eti-Osa Local Government Area and Iponri in Surulere Local Government Area, communities that recently experienced heavy flooding following intense rainfall.
Additional drainage maintenance equipment has also been moved to the Gbetu/Iwerekun axis behind Mayfair Gardens in the Ajah area to accelerate de-silting operations.
The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources said the deployment forms part of the state’s comprehensive flood management strategy aimed at improving drainage infrastructure, reducing the risk of flooding and safeguarding lives and property.
According to the ministry, the swamp buggy would reinforce the ongoing de-silting and channelisation works by widening and deepening drainage channels to enhance the free flow of stormwater and ensure quicker discharge into major outfalls.
The government also disclosed that similar equipment would gradually be deployed across all local government areas (LGAs) and local council development areas (LCDAs) to strengthen drainage maintenance throughout the state.
Officials explained that the intervention followed careful monitoring of rainfall patterns and identified flood-prone locations requiring urgent attention.
“We are not waiting for disaster to happen. Once we saw the pattern of rainfall and the pressure points, we moved in with equipment.
“Ogombo Canal is a major outfall, so clearing it has a multiplier effect on adjoining communities,” a senior official said.
In a statement yesterday, the ministry reaffirmed the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to proactive environmental management, noting that additional flood-affected communities had already been scheduled for similar interventions in the coming weeks.
The ministry also urged LGAs and LCDAs to intensify the clearing of tertiary drains within their jurisdictions, stressing that while the state government is responsible for primary and secondary drainage channels, councils must ensure that neighbourhood drains remain free of refuse and silt.
“Primary and secondary drains are the responsibility of the state. But tertiary drains within streets and estates fall to the councils. We need them to intensify desilting now so we don’t lose the gains we are making,” the ministry stated.
Residents of the affected communities welcomed the intervention, describing it as timely and a significant departure from previous years when the government response often came after flood incidents had already caused extensive damage.
A resident of Awoyaya, Mr. Tajudeen Ayanwale, commended the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, for what he described as proactive leadership.
“I will personally commend Mr. Tokunbo Wahab. He is doing a good job. He is, perhaps, one of the best commissioners in the state and he is working in unity with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. You can see what he has done this rainy season. He rose to the occasion. History will not forget him for the work he is doing to develop the state,” he said.
He noted that unlike previous years, drainage maintenance commenced while the rains were still ongoing, helping to minimise flooding.
Mrs. Ada Chukwuemeka, a resident of Iponri, also praised the government’s intervention, while appealing to residents to complement official efforts by refraining from dumping refuse into the drainage channels.
“The Ministry of the Environment has risen to the occasion. Lagos is truly becoming a Centre of Excellence again. It has not been easy with the volume of rain, but they have proven they are up to the task. I appeal to Lagosians to cooperate with the government. Stop dumping refuse in drains. If we do our part, very soon we will have the Lagos of our dream,” she said.
A trader at Ogombo, identified simply as Tunde, recounted how flooding last year destroyed goods worth more than N400,000 in his shop.
“This year, because they came early to clear the canal, the water passed quickly. The government should keep this tempo. Don’t wait until people cry before you act,” he said.
Also speaking, Awoyaya community youth leader, Femi Adebayo, described the deployment of the swamp buggy as evidence that residents’ concerns were being addressed.
“We have complained for years that Ogombo Canal was silting up. To see a swamp buggy here now tells us someone is listening. We will help by sensitising our people not to block drains with sand and waste,” he said.
Another resident, Mrs. Yetunde Balogun of Iponri, urged the government to sustain routine maintenance beyond the rainy season.
“We appreciate what the government is doing now. Our prayer is that this should not be a one-off thing. Continuous clearing will save us from the pains of flooding every year. Let them come even in the dry season. That’s when the real work is done,” she said.
Environmental experts have consistently attributed flooding in Lagos to a combination of increasing rainfall associated with climate change, indiscriminate refuse disposal, construction on drainage alignments and inadequate maintenance of tertiary drains.
Acknowledging these challenges, the ministry said it would intensify public enlightenment campaigns and strengthen enforcement against environmental violations while continuing large-scale engineering interventions.
Officials further disclosed that more swamp buggies would be deployed to critical drainage outfalls across the state’s five IBILE divisions before the peak of the rainy season to improve drainage capacity in vulnerable communities.
Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Mr. Olakunle Adegbite, reiterated that government efforts alone would not solve the challenge of flooding.
“Government can provide the machines and the manpower, but every Lagosian must become a drainage officer in their own street,” he said.
The latest intervention underscores the Lagos State Government’s resolve to adopt preventive rather than reactive measures in addressing perennial flooding, while emphasising that sustained maintenance and public cooperation remain critical to achieving a flood-resilient city.
