Fed up with waist-deep water every time it rains? Lagos State is finally swinging the hammer — and it’s coming down hard on illegal buildings choking Agungi, Ajiran and Ikota’s drains.

Right, so here’s what’s happening, according to cbinews.tv — Lagos State Government has had enough of the flooding in Agungi, Ajiran and Ikota. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, says they’re rolling in the bulldozers immediately.

Why now?

Locals in Agungi have been complaining about flooding for ages, even though major drainage work was finished over two years ago. Turns out, when officials went for a look around Lekki, Agungi, Ikota and Ajiran this week, they found the real problem. A land-owning family had illegally blocked the main Ajiran outfall channel that’s supposed to drain stormwater straight into the Lagos Lagoon by gravity. Basically, the water had nowhere to go.

Wahab didn’t mince words: “We respect C of Os and legit land ownership, but nobody gets to block a natural waterway or public drainage.” So that blocked channel? It’s being reopened immediately in the public interest.

It’s not just Ajiran

Over at Megamond Estate in Ikota, developers have been reclaiming bits of the Ikota River and building without environmental or drainage approvals. Enforcement notices went out. They were ignored. Now those illegal structures sitting on reclaimed drainage alignments are coming down too.

The Commissioner also dropped a reminder: if you’re building on wetlands or near water, you *must* get an Environmental Impact Assessment and Wetland Clearance from the Ministry first. No shortcuts.

The bigger picture

Lagos has been battling flash floods all rainy season. Back in July 2025, Wahab blamed “tidal lock-up” — when high tides from the Atlantic and Lagos Lagoon stop stormwater from draining, causing backups in low-lying areas. And yes, dumping refuse in gutters makes it worse.

To tackle it long-term, the state announced plans in September 2025 to build a “Blue-Green Network” over the next 24 months. Think estate lakes, canals, pumps, flap gates and green corridors that store rainwater and release it slowly. New building codes will also force big developments to include on-site rainwater retention.

What about the rest of Nigeria?

Earlier this June 2026, the National Economic Council approved N83.2 billion for nationwide flood mitigation, moving from reactive to proactive disaster management. That came after a report said Nigeria and other African countries lose about $12.7 billion yearly to disaster damage. President Bola Tinubu also approved N16.7 billion in 2025 to rebuild Mokwa Bridge in Niger State after floods destroyed it, plus N2 billion last June for homes hit by the Mokwa flood.

Bottom line from Lagos: blocked drains will be cleared, illegal structures will go, and residents are being asked to report blocked channels. The state says it’s done playing nice with developers who ignore environmental laws.

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