Lagos State has set a target of managing 90 to 95 percent of flooding before the 2027 rainy season, raising the bar on a problem that returns with the rains every year in Nigeria's largest city. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, announced the goal on Saturday during an inspection of drainage projects in Oregun, Surulere and Osborne Foreshore Estate in Ikoyi.

Wahab said the state had previously achieved a 75 to 80 percent success rate in dealing with flooding over recent years. "Our aim is to surpass the 75 to 80 percent mark, reaching 90 or 95 percent," he said, adding that the administration is building resilient infrastructure and keeping the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang working throughout the year.

A higher bar than before

The plan rests on stronger infrastructure and continuous drainage upkeep rather than seasonal clean-ups. The ministry is tightening environmental rules, including a ban on Styrofoam and a phased elimination of single-use plastics, to stop debris blocking drainage channels. Officials also examined complaints about encroachments on drainage paths, including at the Oregun Mixed-Use Scheme, where mechanics were reported to have occupied land over a channel known as System One.

Why full prevention is off the table

Wahab was candid that flooding cannot be eliminated entirely. "Achieving 100 percent flood prevention is unrealistic; that would be akin to burying one's head in the sand. Lagos is inherently a coastal state," he said, pointing to tidal shifts, intense rainfall and rising sea levels. He urged residents to stay calm during flash flooding, saying water usually recedes within an hour or two.

[Source: NaijaPodNews](https://naijapodnews.com/news/post-politics-mw6kuarl-ak1u) | [Source: Punch, via AfricaFrontPage (headline index, 7 Nov 2026, 16:00 GMT)](https://www.africafrontpage.com/today)