Residents of flood-prone communities in Lagos have blamed indiscriminate waste disposal for worsening flooding, saying blocked drainage channels continue to damage property, disrupt businesses and pose health risks.
Speaking in separate interviews, residents said drainage channels were often clogged with plastics, food waste and other refuse, preventing floodwater from receding after rainfall.
A trader at Mile 12 Market, Mrs Jagila Bakare, said overflowing drains frequently affect commercial activities, while a resident of Ajegunle, Mrs Chinweike Agbai, lamented the recurring destruction of household property caused by flooding.
Also, Mr Sunday Onyeagha, a trader at Jankara Market, said floodwaters mixed with waste created an unhealthy environment and made movement difficult.
The President of the Association of Scraps and Wastepickers of Lagos (ASWOL), Mr Friday Oku, attributed much of the flooding in the state to poor waste management.
According to him, indiscriminate disposal of refuse into drains and waterways obstructs the free flow of stormwater, increasing flood risks.
Oku called for proper waste disposal, regular evacuation of refuse and sustained public awareness to reduce flooding.
The Lagos State Government has repeatedly urged residents to stop dumping waste into drainage channels, while intensifying waste evacuation, drainage clearance and enforcement measures to mitigate flooding.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has also warned of increased risks of flash flooding in Lagos and other coastal states due to continued rainfall.
