Lekki corridor of Lagos State has been in the news lately, particularly due to flooding, which has made a mess of the entire “exclusive quarter” of the rich. While some communities along the axis are fingering the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, settlement/development experts are blaming the bastardisation of the Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan for the recurring deluge. It’s important to note that Lagos typically experiences its peak rainy season between June and September, a period often characterised by heavy downpours that can trigger flash floods, particularly in low-lying communities and areas with blocked drainage systems.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, former President of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria, Dr Moses Ogunleye, said that the key challenge was that less than 25 percent of components of most of the master plans are implemented before they expired. He hinted that the template plan is already being reviewed. “The master plan is already being reviewed. Indeed, the work is being concluded,” he said.

Regardless, Ogunleye said that wasn’t the major challenge of stormwater management in Lekki, disclosing that the Drainage Master Plan for the area has not been implemented due to poor funding. “The key challenge is that for most of the Master Plans less than 25 percent of the components are implemented before the plans expire.

However, this is not the major challenge of stormwater management in the area. “Even the Drainage Master Plan for the area has not been implemented. It is poorly funded,” he said. To prevent future occurrence, he suggested that drainage works should precede development. He pointed out that the areas that are worst hit by flood this year were the same in the last five years, noting that action should have been taken.

“Let drainge works precede physical development, with that the components would have been implemented prior to building communities,” he said.

Another expert, Femi Oyedele, said the Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan has been bastardised, hence the reason for the incessant flooding of the area after heavy downpour. “Yes, we can say Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan has been bastardised and is the reason for the incessant flooding of the area after heavy downpour,” he said. He defined the Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan as a regional development and zoning blueprint by the Lagos State Government, designed to transform the 70-80 kilometres long Lekki peninsula into a self-sustaining “Blue-Green Environment City”.

The master plan, he said, supports a projected population of over 5.3 million people and integrated high-end real estate with massive industrial hubs. “There were an estimated 100,000 trees in this city that has been pruned down to give way for physical development. Water bodies including lagoons, rivers lakes and streams have been sand-filled for housing construction,” he said.

The worst bastardisation, Oyedele said, was the fact that there is no holistic channel for rainwater to escape because of the myriads of fenced estates that are developed without reference to the Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan. He said: ”The regional master plan includes the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFZ), a 16,500-hectare economic hub hosting major industrial projects like the Dangote Refinery, the Lekki Deep Sea Port and mixed-use developments like Alárò City.

“Transportation and infrastructure development in the masterplan encompass expansions of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, the proposed Lekki-Epe International Airport (3,500-hectare site), the proposed Lagos Green Line Rail, and the 700 km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

“Zoning divides the peninsula into distinct functional zones. The E2 axis focuses on financial, commercial and high-end estate properties, while the E4 axis is dedicated to logistics and industrial manufacturing.“

This beautiful plan, he said, was charged to be regulated by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LSPPPA). he said the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, confirmed that less than 20 percent of the buildings within the Lekki region had building approval.

That is, over 80 percent of buildings in Lekki regions are without building approval.

“Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, confirmed in 2024 that less than 20 percent of the buildings within the Lekki region had building approval,” he said.

Apart from this, Oyedele said many estates in Lekki region are disjointed with no relationship with each other in terms of roads and drainage connectivity.

To mitigate the problem of annual flooding, Oyedele is of the opinion that private and experienced housing experts must be involved by state government. He suggested the review of the master plan and the establishment of waterways.

He said: ”There are easy solutions to the flooding, which will start with the review of the master plan.

“There will be establishment of waterways that will be used for transportation from Eleko to the Banana Island corridor. These waterways will also serve as floodwater absorbers during rainy season.”

Citing other countries, Oyedele pointed out that over 90 percent of the Netherlands is at water level or below water level, yet the government was able to mitigate flooding of its land. “Over 80 percent of Glasgow is prone to flooding, especially the islands, but Glasgow Local Government authority is able to control flooding through several measures, including comprehensive channelling,” he said.

According to him, Lekki flooding can be controlled if the state government is ready to work with housing professionals in academia and private practice.

Residents account

Residents in one of the communities along the Coastal Road in Lekki, Anthony lamented that the flood situation in the community Baruwa/Igboefon is a serious concern. “Our children have been out of school for the past month. Furthermore, the Eko district has suspended electricity supply for over a month and a week, and access to water for bathing or cooking is nonexistent. Our properties, valued at millions of naira, have been severely damaged due to the flood. Unfortunately, the government has not taken any action to address this situation,” he said.

Another resident, Ogbonna Uche, said the flood situation is pathetic, figering the newly constructed Lagos-Calabar superhighway for the increasing flood waters.

He lamented that most of the drainage channels lead to nowhere, having blocked the passage by the new road construction. He said major streets in the community have been submerged by flood water.

When called to see if something has been done to alleviate the situation, his response was that some drainage works are ongoing.

“They are already doing some works. We hope to see the effect in coming days,“he said.

Also, the Federal Controller of Work, Lagos State, Engineer Olufemi Dare,has to defended the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying the project was not responsible for flooding along the axis.

He said flooding of the environment during heavy downpour was not new to Lagos, being a coast city, and that the recent floodwaters were not limited to Lagos, as they affected the entire West African coast, including Accra, Ghana.

Dare narrated that what really happened about the recent flooding was that the entire Lagos’ canals and drainages were blocked, which needed to be opened up by the state government. According to him, stakeholders’ meeting had been held and one of the agreements was that the federal and state governments would build service lanes on both sides of the Coastal Road, with big drainages to channel stormwater to the ocean. In doing that, he said that many houses would have to give way.

About the number of houses that will be affected by the planned construction of service lanes and drainage, the federal controller said that has not been determined.

He said it would be determined after the design of the service lanes and after bringing in enumerators for the project. “After the design of the service lanes along the axis, we will bring in enumerators who will determine the number of houses that will be affected,” he said.

To curb flooding along the corridor, a resident said there would be a need to provide drainage corridors with allowances for storms. “Construction of canals is possible but that should be stretched across about 50 years so that the public works budget doesn’t get overloaded and also so that we can understand the temperament of the water better,” he said

Today’s rain forcast

Apart from early warnings, the state government has forecast rainfall across several parts of the state on Monday, advising residents to remain vigilant and ensure drainage channels are kept free of refuse to minimise the risk of flooding. The weather outlook, shared by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, indicated that cloudy conditions, accompanied by light southwesterly winds and intermittent rainfall, will prevail across the state at different periods of the day. According to the forecast, residents in Ikorodu, Epe and adjoining communities should expect rainfall during the early hours of the day, while other parts of the state are also likely to experience showers later.

The commissioner said, midnight to sunrise, cloudy conditions are expected with temperatures ranging between 24°C and 26°C, accompanied by light southwesterly winds. “There are prospects of rainfall over parts of Ikorodu, Epe, and adjoining areas, particularly during the early morning hours.”

Providing the daytime outlook, Wahab said cloudy to partly cloudy conditions would dominate the weather, with occasional sunshine and rainfall expected in several parts of the metropolis. “Temperatures are expected to range between 24°C and 28°C. Prospects of rainfall over parts of Ikorodu, Kosofe, Somolu, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Eti-Osa, Lagos Island and adjoining areas,” he said

He urged residents to take precautionary measures in view of the forecast, advising them to keep drainage channels clear and remain alert for sudden changes in weather conditions.

To mitigate the impact of seasonal flooding, the Lagos State government said it has intensified drainage clearance, desilting of canals and enforcement against indiscriminate waste disposal. (TRIBUNE)