By Olaitan Ibrahim
In a sweeping move to combat perennial flooding, the Lagos State Government has pulled down 1,141 buildings illegally erected on drainage alignments within the past year.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed this on Saturday during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, to mark the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
Wahab disclosed that out of 1,663 identified contraventions statewide, 1,141 structures had been demolished, with Alimosho topping the list — 182 structures already flattened out of 300 marked for removal.
Other major flashpoints include Oshodi/Isolo with 135 demolitions, Lagos Mainland with 123, Eti-Osa I and II with 85 and 80 demolitions respectively, Ikoyi-Obalende with 85, and Apapa and Ibeju Lekki with 60 each, among others.
Highlighting the scale of the drainage restoration efforts, Wahab listed critical interventions such as the rehabilitation of the 3.5km System 40 and 40A Alaba International Market Channel, the 3.0km System 34B Aiyetoro/Iteku/Ishasi Channel in Ojo, and the 2.5km System 131 Odo Iraye Channel in Epe.
Between 2023 and 2024 alone, the government restored 12 primary drainage channels spanning 32.5km and rehabilitated 84 secondary channels covering another 96km. He added that four additional major channels are set for restoration in 2025.
In a bold innovation against tidal flooding, Wahab announced the completion of a state-of-the-art pumping station at Ilubirin, Lagos Island — the first of its kind in Africa — designed to channel stormwater directly into the lagoon through an elevated system. Areas like Oroyinyin, Idumagbo, Binuyo, Aroloya, Epe, and Ojo-Giwa are expected to see major relief once the Lagos Island Drainage Regeneration Project is completed.