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Bode George Blames Lagos Flooding on ‘Greedy’ Sand-Filling of Lagoon
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has attributed the recurring flooding in parts of Lagos State to what he described as indiscriminate and profit-driven sand-filling of the Lagos Lagoon.
Speaking during an interview with real estate expert Femi Rogers, uploaded on Facebook on Thursday, George argued that extensive land reclamation projects in areas such as Ikoyi and Lekki have disrupted the natural drainage system and contributed significantly to worsening floods across the state.
He explained that much of Ikoyi and Lekki was originally surrounded by water before large-scale reclamation transformed the landscape, stressing that the environmental consequences of those developments are now becoming increasingly evident.
George lamented the lack of proper historical documentation on the evolution of Lagos’ coastal environment, noting that many younger generations may not fully understand how drastically the terrain has changed over the years.
According to him, communities in Lekki existed long before the massive sand-filling projects that eventually connected the area to Ikoyi.
Expressing concern over the scale of land reclamation, George warned that excessive sand-filling has drastically reduced the lagoon’s capacity to receive stormwater, thereby increasing the risk of flooding.
He claimed that the lagoon’s water level has risen above some surrounding roads, particularly around the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Bridge, reversing the natural flow of rainwater into the lagoon.
George argued that the narrowing of the lagoon through continuous reclamation for waterfront developments has obstructed drainage channels, making flooding inevitable during heavy rainfall.
Punch report that he further stated that without the installation of mechanical pumping systems, stormwater would continue to accumulate on major roads because gravity alone can no longer drain floodwater into the lagoon.
Citing the Obalende Canal as an example, George said residents regularly experience severe flooding during the rainy season, urging greater consideration of the environmental impact of future coastal development projects.
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