Lagos Unveils 24-Month Flood Management Plan Linking Estate Lakes, Canals, and Pumps

The Lagos State Government has rolled out a comprehensive 24-month flood management strategy that will integrate estate lakes, canals, and pumps into a coordinated system designed to reduce flooding across the city.

The plan was announced by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, via his official X account, where he explained that the initiative targets communities most vulnerable to tide-locked flooding.

The Blue-Green Network

At the heart of the strategy is the creation of a Blue-Green Network, which will connect estate lakes, canals, and green corridors to temporarily store and gradually release rainwater, preventing drainage systems from being overwhelmed during intense rainfall.

“Next steps (6–24 months): build a Lekki Blue-Green Network linking estate lakes, canals, and green corridors to store and slowly release water. Install flap gates and pilot pumps at the most tide-sensitive outfalls. Intensify enforcement of canal rights-of-way, building on channel restoration already achieved,” Wahab wrote.

Actions Already Taken (2023–2025)

Wahab highlighted progress already achieved in the past two years:

• 579 km of secondary collectors maintained across 693 sites.
• 309 km of primary channels rehabilitated.
• 444 km of drains cleared by the Emergency Flood Action Group (EFAG).
• 40.3 km of encroached channels restored.
• 218 new channels awarded for construction, expected to add 1,500 km when completed.
• Installation of pumps at critical points and rollout of early-warning systems, including daily flood forecasts and water-level monitoring.

Immediate and Long-Term Measures

In the short term, the government is:

• Intensifying silt and trash clearance at choke points.
• Installing debris screens on culverts.
• Piloting estate lakes and on-plot detention systems to temporarily hold excess water during heavy downpours.

Looking ahead (2–8 years), Lagos plans to:

• Introduce pumped drainage cells in the lowest basins.
• Complete secondary-drain planning and secure drainage easements to protect canal space.
• Restore critical wetlands.
• Update building codes to require new developments to include on-site retention and detention systems.

Why It Matters

Wahab stressed that Lagos’ flat, coastal geography makes the city especially prone to flash flooding, a challenge that is expected to worsen with climate change.

He explained that the phased strategy—immediate, medium-term, and long-term—aims to strengthen resilience, minimize disruptions, and protect residents and businesses across Lagos.