The Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate demolition of illegal structures obstructing drainage channels and canal right-of-way in Agungi, Ajiran, and Ikota as part of efforts to curb persistent flooding in the Lekki corridor.
The directive follows recent flooding in several parts of Lagos after days of heavy rainfall and forms part of the state’s ongoing campaign to restore natural waterways and improve stormwater management.
The decision was announced in a statement posted on the Lagos State Government’s official Facebook page on Monday.
According to the government, the enforcement exercise will focus on reopening blocked drainage channels and removing all developments that have encroached on designated drainage alignments and canal right-of-way.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the move after inspecting critical drainage infrastructure and flood mitigation projects in Lekki, Agungi, Ajiran, and Ikota.
The inspection was prompted by repeated flooding in Agungi despite the completion of major drainage infrastructure more than two years ago.
Officials discovered what the government described as a major obstruction at the Ajiran outfall channel, where a land-owning family allegedly blocked the outlet of a primary drainage system leading into the Lagos Lagoon.
“The Lagos State Government will immediately remove all illegal structures obstructing canals and drainage channels’ right-of-way along Agungi, Ajiran and Ikota,” the statement said.
According to Wahab, the blocked outlet has prevented stormwater from flowing naturally into the lagoon, significantly reducing the effectiveness of the drainage system and exposing surrounding communities to recurring floods.
He directed that the drainage channel be reopened immediately, stressing that no individual or community has the right to obstruct public drainage infrastructure or natural waterways, regardless of land ownership or possession of a Certificate of Occupancy.
“The drainage infrastructure was designed to discharge stormwater by gravity into the Lagos Lagoon. Once that outlet is blocked, the entire system becomes ineffective,” he said.
The commissioner noted that the flooding affecting Agungi and Ajiran is directly linked to the obstruction of the dedicated drainage channel that carries stormwater through Chevron Drive into the lagoon.
During the inspection, officials also visited Megamond Estate in Ikota, where developers were found to have reclaimed part of the Ikota River and commenced construction without obtaining the required environmental and drainage approvals.
Wahab disclosed that enforcement and abatement notices had previously been served on the developers but were ignored. He warned that all illegal structures erected on reclaimed waterways and drainage alignments would be demolished.
He reiterated that developers undertaking projects on wetlands or water-related sites must obtain Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval and, where necessary, Wetland Clearance from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources before construction begins.
The commissioner assured residents that the state government would continue to enforce environmental laws by removing illegal reclamations and developments that obstruct drainage infrastructure.
He also urged Lagos residents to avoid dumping refuse into gutters and drainage channels and to report blocked waterways and other environmental violations to the appropriate authorities.
The latest enforcement action aligns with the state’s broader flood management strategy. In September 2025, the Lagos State Government unveiled plans to integrate estate lakes, canals, pumps, and green corridors into a Blue-Green Network designed to temporarily store and gradually release stormwater during heavy rainfall.
Earlier this month, the National Economic Council approved N83.2 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for flooding and other climate-related disasters, reinforcing the country’s shift from emergency response to proactive disaster risk management.
