LAGOS STATE GOVT DEPLOYS SWAMP BUGGY TO FLOOD-PRONE COMMUNITIES, INTENSIFIES DRAINAGE CLEARANCE
The Lagos State Government has intensified its flood mitigation efforts with the deployment of a swamp buggy to major drainage channels in Ogombo, Awoyaya and Iponri, as part of measures to reduce flooding following persistent rainfall across the state.
The intervention, which also extends to the Gbetu/Iwerekun area behind Mayfair Garden in Ajah, is aimed at accelerating the desilting and channelisation of critical waterways to improve the free flow of stormwater and reduce the risk of flooding in vulnerable communities.
The state government said the specialised equipment would reinforce ongoing drainage maintenance operations and would eventually be deployed across all Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources described the deployment as part of a broader flood management strategy designed to provide immediate relief to affected communities while strengthening long-term resilience against flooding.
According to the ministry, the decision to deploy the equipment followed an assessment of rainfall patterns and identified flood-prone locations requiring urgent intervention.
"We are not waiting for disaster to happen. Once we observed the rainfall pattern and identified pressure points, we moved in with equipment. Ogombo Canal is a major outfall, and clearing it will improve water discharge across adjoining communities," a senior official said.
The ministry added that additional communities affected by recent flooding have been identified for similar interventions in the coming weeks.
It also urged Local Government Councils and LCDAs to complement the state's efforts by intensifying the clearing of tertiary drains within streets and residential estates.
"While the state government is responsible for primary and secondary drainage channels, tertiary drains fall under the jurisdiction of local councils. We need them to intensify desilting efforts so that the gains from the ongoing interventions are sustained," the ministry stated.
The deployment was welcomed by residents of the affected communities, many of whom described it as a timely response to recurring flooding challenges.
A resident of Awoyaya, Mr. Tajudeen Ayanwale, commended the Lagos State Government for responding promptly to the situation, noting that the drainage clearance commenced while the rainy season was still ongoing.
He also praised the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, for what he described as proactive leadership in addressing flood-related concerns.
Similarly, Mrs. Ada Chukwuemeka, a resident of Iponri, said the intervention had renewed residents' confidence in the government's commitment to flood control.
She, however, urged residents to support government efforts by refraining from dumping refuse into drainage channels.
"The government is doing its part, but residents also have a responsibility. If we stop blocking drains with refuse, the flooding situation will improve significantly," she said.
For traders whose businesses have suffered flood-related losses in previous years, the intervention has also raised hopes.
A trader in Ogombo, who identified himself simply as Tunde, recalled losing goods worth more than ₦400,000 during last year's flooding.
According to him, early drainage clearance this year enabled floodwater to recede more quickly, reducing the impact on businesses.
Community youth leader, Comrade Femi Adebayo, also welcomed the deployment, saying residents had repeatedly called attention to the increasing siltation of the Ogombo Canal.
He pledged that members of the community would support the government's efforts by sensitising residents against indiscriminate dumping of waste and activities that obstruct drainage channels.
Despite expressing appreciation for the intervention, many residents stressed the need for sustained maintenance rather than seasonal responses.
Mrs. Yetunde Balogun of Iponri appealed to the government to continue drainage maintenance throughout the year, including during the dry season, to minimise emergency interventions when heavy rains begin.
Environmental experts have consistently maintained that while intense rainfall contributes to flooding in Lagos, human activities including indiscriminate waste disposal, construction on drainage alignments and poor maintenance of tertiary drains remain major factors responsible for recurring flood incidents.
The Ministry acknowledged the role of public behaviour in flood management, saying public enlightenment campaigns and enforcement of environmental regulations would continue alongside engineering interventions.
Officials also disclosed that additional swamp buggies would be deployed to other critical drainage outfalls across the state's five IBILE divisions before the peak of the rainy season as part of efforts to expand drainage capacity in flood-prone corridors.
The government reiterated that achieving lasting flood control would require sustained investment in drainage infrastructure as well as the active cooperation of residents and local councils in maintaining a clean and obstruction-free drainage system.
0 Comments