Residents of Agungi, Ajiran Village and adjoining communities in Eti-Osa are beginning to enjoy relief from persistent flooding after the Lagos State Government reopened a major drainage channel linking the area to the Lagoon and the Ikota River.
The disclosure came on Saturday in an update by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, after he led officials on an inspection of ongoing removal of structures obstructing drainage channels and restoration works in the Ajiran and Agungi corridor.
Wahab said the impact of the intervention became noticeable within days of reopening the blocked waterway.
“My team and I returned to the Ajiran and Agungi axis in Eti-Osa to inspect the ongoing removal of contraventions and drainage restoration works, and I can report that our decisive intervention is already yielding visible results. Within 48 to 72 hours of reopening the Ajiran channel to the Lagoon and the Ikota River, we have seen a remarkable improvement in stormwater discharge, bringing real relief to residents of Agungi, Ajiran Village, and neighbouring communities.
“We are not done yet. This exercise continues until the entire drainage alignment is fully restored and reconnected to the natural water bodies,” he stated.
The commissioner said he also met with community leaders and residents to explain both the immediate response and the long-term measures planned for the flood-prone area.
“We are collaborating with the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to deliver a sustainable engineering solution for this flood prone corridor, and I have directed the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang to commence remedial maintenance on channels requiring urgent intervention,” Wahab disclosed.
During the inspection tour, Wahab visited Orange Island on Freedom Way, where he restated the government’s position against illegal dredging and land reclamation, warning that activities capable of obstructing natural waterways would not be tolerated.
“Reclamation activities there were halted last year because the developers failed to obtain the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment and drainage clearance. That area is a major discharge outlet for Lekki Phase I into the Lagoon and any obstruction would create significant environmental challenges,” he added.
The commissioner said officials also inspected downstream discharge points serving Itedo, Kushenla and Freedom Way, where more corrective measures were identified for immediate implementation.
He praised local government authorities for strengthening their operational capacity, stressing that tackling flooding requires support from every level of government and residents.
“Flood management is a shared duty. Every new road must have properly designed collector drains connected to primary canals, and communities must take ownership of completed infrastructure. On enforcement, we continue to arrest and prosecute environmental offenders.”