The Lagos State chapter of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has blamed the recurring flooding across the state on what it described as government negligence, poor urban planning, and inadequate drainage infrastructure, calling for immediate and sustainable measures to prevent further destruction of lives and property.
In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Ayodele Kazeem, the opposition party expressed concern over the worsening flood situation, saying residents across several parts of Lagos continue to suffer avoidable losses whenever heavy rainfall occurs.
According to the party, communities in Alimosho, Ikorodu, Agege, Oshodi, Lekki, Epe, Badagry, and Surulere have been severely affected, with flooded roads, submerged homes, damaged vehicles, disrupted businesses, and displaced families becoming a recurring reality.
The APM argued that the persistent flooding could no longer be regarded solely as a natural disaster, insisting it was largely the result of years of poor urban planning, inadequate drainage systems, weak environmental enforcement, and the government’s failure to act proactively despite repeated warnings from experts.
“It is unacceptable that with every rainfall, communities across the state are thrown into fear and uncertainty,” the statement said, adding that many Lagos residents have continued to incur significant financial losses due to what it described as an annual and preventable crisis.
The party called on the Lagos State Government to move beyond issuing seasonal flood warnings and embark on visible and lasting interventions to tackle the problem.
It urged the government to immediately clear and expand drainage channels where necessary, complete ongoing flood control and drainage projects without delay, and strictly enforce urban planning regulations to prevent the obstruction of waterways.
The APM also appealed to the state government to provide emergency relief and financial support to families and business owners whose homes and properties have been damaged by the floods.
According to the party, the prevailing economic hardship across the country has made the impact of preventable flooding even more devastating for residents.
While holding the government responsible for providing adequate infrastructure, the party also urged residents to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels and canals, stressing that environmental sanitation requires collective responsibility.
However, it maintained that the primary responsibility for providing effective drainage systems, functional infrastructure, and sound environmental management rests with the government.
“The people of Lagos deserve a government that plans ahead rather than reacts after disasters have occurred. They deserve a government that prioritises prevention over sympathy visits and media statements after lives and property have already been lost,” the statement said.
The APM assured affected residents of its support and pledged to continue advocating policies aimed at protecting the welfare and safety of Lagosians.
“The time for excuses has passed. Lagos deserves better, and the people must no longer be subjected to avoidable suffering each time the rains come,” the party added.
