The Lagos State Government has blamed persistent Lagos flooding on illegal land reclamation, unauthorised dredging and poor waste disposal habits by residents.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, said human activities continue to worsen flooding across the state despite government interventions.
According to the commissioner, indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels and illegal reclamation of waterfront areas have obstructed the natural flow of water, making flood management increasingly difficult.
“It is important to identify what the problem is in the first place, and the problem is nothing other than bad habits,” Bush-Alebiosu said during the interview.
He explained that while illegal land reclamation and dredging are driven by commercial interests, everyday actions such as indiscriminate waste disposal also contribute significantly to flooding.
Bush-Alebiosu also condemned the practice of dumping human waste into lagoons, warning that it poses serious environmental and public health risks.
“The same lagoon feeds us. You’re eating fish that feed off faeces,” he said, urging residents to adopt responsible environmental practices.
The comments come as heavy rainfall in recent weeks has triggered flooding in several parts of Lagos, leaving residents stranded, disrupting movement and prompting widespread calls for improved flood control measures.
Footage of flooded roads and neighbourhoods has circulated widely on social media, with many residents urging authorities to strengthen drainage infrastructure and enforce environmental regulations.
