Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has expressed concern over the growing incidence of flooding in Lagos State, attributing the problem to excessive land reclamation and indiscriminate sand-filling of the Lagos Lagoon.
Speaking during an interview with real estate expert Femi Rogers, George said decades of aggressive reclamation projects have drastically reduced the lagoon’s capacity to receive stormwater, leaving many parts of the state vulnerable to severe flooding whenever it rains.
According to the elder statesman, large sections of Ikoyi and Lekki that are now heavily developed were originally surrounded by water, but years of sand-filling have altered the natural landscape and disrupted the area’s drainage system.
He explained that the environmental consequences of these developments are now becoming increasingly evident, as rainwater can no longer flow naturally into the lagoon.
George lamented the absence of proper historical documentation on the transformation of Lagos’ coastal environment, noting that many residents are unaware of the extent of changes that have taken place over the years.
“The whole of Ikoyi was reclaimed with sand all the way to Falomo. Unfortunately, we don’t have adequate records documenting how these changes happened. Even I struggle to remember because there is very little written history about it,” he said.
He added that the Lekki communities once existed within a vast water environment that connected naturally to Ikoyi before extensive reclamation projects reshaped the area.
Expressing deep concern over the current condition of the lagoon, George warned that unchecked sand-filling has significantly altered its natural balance.
“My fear is that the lagoon has been sand-filled to a senseless level. If you get to the IBB Bridge, you will notice that the lagoon is now higher than the road,” he stated.
He argued that the narrowing of the lagoon through continuous reclamation has prevented stormwater from draining effectively, as developers focus on creating waterfront properties without giving adequate consideration to the environmental consequences.
“When it rains, the water is supposed to flow into the lagoon, but they have narrowed it through greedy sand-filling, with everyone thinking about building waterfront properties without considering the environmental impact,” George said.
The PDP chieftain further explained that the change in the lagoon’s elevation now makes gravity drainage almost impossible, meaning floodwater can only be removed efficiently through mechanical pumping systems.
According to him, the lagoon’s water level now sits above surrounding roads, making it unrealistic to expect rainwater to drain naturally during heavy downpours.
“The lagoon is now higher than the road. So when it rains, how do you expect the water to flow into the lagoon without pumps? That is why roads become flooded,” he said.
George cited the Obalende Canal as one of the areas where the effects of poor drainage are most visible during the rainy season, noting that floodwaters regularly overwhelm roads and surrounding communities.
He called for greater attention to environmental planning and sustainable urban development, warning that continued land reclamation without proper drainage infrastructure could worsen flooding challenges across Lagos in the years ahead.
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