- Illegal Reclamation, Waste Dumping Worsen Lagos Flooding – Lagos Commissioner
- Says improper waste disposal is a behavioural problem among residents
- Lagos has witnessed widespread flooding in recent weeks following heavy rainfall
The Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, has attributed the persistent flooding across the state to poor environmental practices, illegal dredging and unauthorised land reclamation, Eko Hot Blog reports.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Bush-Alebiosu said human activities have continued to frustrate government efforts to tackle flooding in the coastal state.
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According to him, indiscriminate waste disposal and illegal reclamation remain major contributors to the recurring floods experienced in many parts of Lagos.
“It is important to identify what the problem is in the first place, and the problem is nothing other than bad habits.
“I mean, illegal reclamation and illegal dredging affect it on one hand; habits affect it on the other hand,” he said.
The commissioner explained that while illegal land reclamation is largely driven by commercial interests, improper waste disposal is a behavioural problem among residents.
“At the end of the day, those who, out of habit, dump refuse aren’t doing it because they want to make money from it. However, those who are reclaiming illegally are doing it for commercial purposes. So, you have both sides,” he added.
Bush-Alebiosu also condemned the disposal of human waste into the lagoon, warning that the practice poses serious environmental and public health risks.
“The first thing is that some people even dump faeces into the lagoon. This is the same lagoon that feeds us. You’re eating fish that feed off faeces.
“So all of these things eventually will come back to bite us, and this is just a typical example of what we’re seeing at the moment,” he said.
Lagos has witnessed widespread flooding in recent weeks following heavy rainfall, with several communities reporting damaged property, disrupted businesses and restricted movement.
The situation has sparked criticism from residents, many of whom have called on the Lagos State Government to implement more effective flood control measures across the state.
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