The Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have agreed to strengthen collaboration on flood management, water supply and sanitation as part of efforts to prevent future disasters and build more resilient communities across the state.
According to Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, the Director for Information and Public Relations, who disclosed this in a press release, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, disclosed this during an assessment visit to flood-prone communities and critical water infrastructure in Lagos State.
Utsev said the Federal Government was committed to working with the Lagos State Government, development partners and the private sector to develop sustainable solutions to the state’s flooding and water-related challenges.
He described Lagos as one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities, stressing that developments in the state have significant implications for Nigeria and the continent.
According to him, the assessment visit was part of a nationwide exercise by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to evaluate water resources, sanitation, hygiene and flood-related challenges across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the exercise would enable the government to identify areas requiring urgent intervention and develop practical, long-term solutions.
“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes strongly in collaboration. We will continue to engage the Lagos State Government, the private sector, and development partners to develop sustainable mechanisms that will address the challenges we have observed and improve the living conditions of the people,” Utsev said.
The minister commended the Lagos State Government, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority for measures being implemented to mitigate flooding and improve water resources management.
He, however, identified indiscriminate dumping of waste into drainage channels as a major contributor to urban flooding, urging residents to protect drainage infrastructure and maintain clean surroundings.
Utsev also praised the Ilubirin Mechanical Pumping Station for its role in controlling flooding on Lagos Island, describing it as a practical engineering solution capable of being replicated where necessary.
He said comprehensive engineering assessments and detailed designs would be carried out before the Federal Government determines the scope, cost and timeline of additional interventions.
The minister added that the government would explore the possibility of integrating hydropower generation into future water infrastructure projects where technically feasible, noting that such projects could create employment opportunities while improving infrastructure sustainability.
The Director-General of NIHSA, Arc. Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, said the Federal Government’s flood mitigation efforts were being guided by scientific forecasts and hydrological data.
Mohammed recalled that the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook projected above-normal rainfall in several parts of the country, warning that continued rainfall could trigger additional flooding amid climate variability and changing hydrological patterns.
He urged stakeholders to remain vigilant, sustain early warning dissemination and take proactive measures to minimise the impact of possible flooding.
“We are not hoping for further flooding, but the prevailing climatic conditions require sustained vigilance,” he said.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, said the state had issued several early warning advisories ahead of the rainy season based on forecasts from relevant agencies, including the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
He said residents of vulnerable communities had been sensitised through conventional and digital media platforms on measures to take in preparation for possible flooding.
Rotimi-Akodu said the state government would continue to invest in innovative flood management infrastructure, citing the Ilubirin Mechanical Pumping Station as one of the projects that had significantly reduced flooding in parts of Lagos Island.
He welcomed the Federal Government’s intervention, particularly in areas where flooding affects communities across state boundaries, saying stronger intergovernmental collaboration would accelerate the delivery of sustainable solutions.
A resident of Ilo-Awela in Alimosho Local Government Area, Mr. Lawal Sunday, commended the Lagos State Government for previous erosion control interventions and appealed to the Federal Government to expedite construction of the proposed bridge serving the community.
He said the bridge would improve access and reduce the hardship faced by residents, while also calling for continued public enlightenment against indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels.
The minister and his delegation, alongside Lagos State officials, inspected several flood and water-related infrastructure sites, including the Ilubirin Mechanical Pumping Station on Lagos Island, Signal Barracks Primary Drainage Channel in Ajegunle, System 5 Drainage Channel in Apapa-Iganmu, Ilo-Awela River in Alimosho, the public toilet project at Orile Iganmu aimed at ending open defecation, and the Ogombo River along the Lagos Coastal Highway corridor.
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