The Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have agreed to deepen collaboration on flood control, water supply, sanitation and other infrastructure interventions aimed at preventing future disasters in the state.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, FNSE, gave the assurance during an assessment visit to flood-prone communities and critical water infrastructure across Lagos.
Utsev said the Federal Government was committed to working with the state government, development partners and the private sector to develop sustainable solutions to the state’s flooding and water-related challenges.
According to a statement by the statement was signed by Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, Director of Information and Public Relations, he described Lagos as one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities, noting that developments in the state have significant implications for Nigeria and the wider African continent.
The minister said the assessment was part of a nationwide exercise by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to evaluate water resources, sanitation, hygiene and flood-related challenges across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the exercise would help the government identify areas requiring urgent intervention and develop practical, long-term solutions.
Utsev commended the Lagos State Government, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority for measures already being implemented to mitigate flooding and improve water resources management.
He stressed the importance of collaboration under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the Federal Government would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
The minister also identified indiscriminate disposal of waste into drainage channels as a major contributor to urban flooding, urging residents to protect drainage infrastructure and maintain a clean environment.
He particularly commended the Ilubirin Mechanical Pumping Station, describing it as an innovative engineering solution designed to channel excess floodwater into the lagoon.
Utsev said detailed engineering assessments would be carried out before additional projects are approved, adding that the scope, cost and implementation timelines would be determined based on technical findings.
He further disclosed that the government would explore the possibility of integrating hydropower generation into future water infrastructure projects where technically feasible, with the potential to create jobs and improve infrastructure sustainability.
The Director-General of NIHSA, Arc. Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, said the government’s flood mitigation measures were being guided by scientific forecasts and hydrological data.
He recalled that the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook had projected above-normal rainfall across several parts of the country, warning that continued rainfall could trigger further flooding due to climate variability and changing hydrological patterns.
Mohammed urged stakeholders to remain vigilant, sustain early-warning dissemination and adopt proactive measures to reduce the impact of possible flooding.
The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, said the state government had issued early-warning advisories ahead of the rainy season based on forecasts from agencies including the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
He said residents of vulnerable communities had been sensitised through conventional and digital media platforms, while the state continued to invest in flood-control infrastructure.
Rotimi-Akodu said the Ilubirin Mechanical Pumping Station had significantly reduced flooding in parts of Lagos Island and welcomed the Federal Government’s intervention in areas where flooding affects communities across state boundaries.
A resident of Ilo-Awela in Alimosho Local Government Area, Mr. Lawal Sunday, commended the Lagos State Government for previous erosion-control interventions and appealed for the speedy construction of a proposed bridge serving the community.
He said the bridge would improve access and reduce hardship for residents, while also calling for sustained public enlightenment against indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels.
During the assessment tour, the minister and his delegation, alongside senior Lagos State officials, visited the Ilubirin Mechanical Pumping Station on Lagos Island, Signal Barracks Primary Drainage Channel in Ajegunle, System 5 Drainage Channel in Apapa-Iganmu LCDA, Ilo-Awela River in Alimosho LGA, a public toilet project aimed at ending open defecation at Orile Iganmu, and the Ogombo River along the Lagos Coastal Highway corridor.