Sanwo-Olu and FG Join Forces to Battle Flooding, Upgrade Drainages, and Clean Up Communities

The Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have forged a renewed partnership aimed at shielding residents from heavy flooding, modernizing drainage channels, and accelerating sanitation reforms across the state.

The agreement was finalized during a high-level meeting at Lagos House in Marina, where the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, paid an official visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The joint initiative follows recent downpours that submerged several communities, as well as updated forecasts from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) listing Lagos among 33 high-risk states vulnerable to severe flooding. Officials attributed the state’s exposure to intense rainfall, rising sea levels, rapid population growth, and low-lying coastal terrain.

Speaking during the visit, Prof. Utsev commiserated with residents affected by recent downpours and revealed three core pillars of the federal-state strategy: strengthening flood resilience, eliminating open defecation, and executing water sector reforms to improve supply and attract private funding. He added that the Federal Government is deploying advanced monitoring tools, including the National Flood Intelligence Monitoring System and the Multi-Hazard Flood Early Warning System, to provide early warnings and coordinate rapid responses during heavy storms.

Responding to the federal delegation, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that Lagos presents unique geographical challenges, holding over 10 percent of the national population on less than half a percent of the country’s landmass. He noted that while the state continues to make massive investments in primary canals and drainage networks, working hand-in-hand with federal authorities remains essential to protecting lives, businesses, and critical infrastructure.

The governor also highlighted state plans to accelerate the drive toward Open Defecation Free status and expressed readiness to join the federal Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) program to expand access to clean water and sanitation services, particularly across underserved neighborhoods.