Lagos approves dredging of 28 more primary drainage channels to curb flood risks

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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the dredging and maintenance of 28 "additional" primary drainage channels to address flood risks flagged in the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook.

The announcement was made by the governor through his Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, at the opening of the 24th International Civil Engineering Conference & AGM, tagged "This Is Lagos 2026" and organised by the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE).

The three-day conference, themed "Civil Engineering: Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure for Economic Growth", saw Sanwo-Olu urge engineers to prioritise resilient infrastructure and proper maintenance; he received an award at the event alongside other dignitaries.

Officials stressed that the 28 channels complement existing flood-control interventions, aimed at improving stormwater drainage and shielding lives, property and economic activity from heavy rainfall. Note: this is distinct from the June 2026 emergency dredging after flash floods — the October announcement is a planned measure under the Annual Flood Outlook.

Also at the event, Nigerian Society of Engineers President Ali Rabiu called for a national strategy to build indigenous infrastructure capacity (local materials, home-grown technology); the keynote by Bola Mudashiru pushed for a shift from a construction culture to responsible infrastructure stewardship; NICE National Chairman Tokunbo Ajanaku and delegates commended federal and Lagos State infrastructure efforts.