Ogombo Flooding: Residents Raise Concerns Over Poor Drainage

Residents of Ogombo in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State have raised concerns over recurring flooding, poor drainage and blocked waterways, saying heavy rainfall has repeatedly disrupted movement, damaged property and made some parts of the community difficult to access.

The concerns came into sharp focus after heavy rainfall in July left parts of Ogombo and nearby communities under water for days. Streets were submerged, some homes were cut off and electricity supplies were disrupted in affected areas.

For residents, the problem is not limited to the amount of rainfall. They have pointed to inadequate drainage infrastructure, blocked canals and waste disposal as factors worsening the flooding.

One resident, Eunice Akintola, who had moved to Ogombo less than a year earlier, told The Guardian that she was considering leaving because of the experience.

She said there was virtually no drainage in her area and called for proper drainage infrastructure to be made a requirement for new housing developments. She also raised concerns about refuse being dumped into canals and waterways.

Floodwater disrupts daily life

The flooding has affected more than movement around the community.

During the July flooding, residents in parts of Ogombo reportedly had to use canoes to move across submerged sections of the area. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu later visited the community with senior state officials to inspect the situation and speak with affected residents.

The governor’s visit included inspections of Ogombo and other flood-affected communities along the Lekki corridor, including parts of Sangotedo, Awoyaya and the Chevron axis.

The inspection covered roads, drainage channels and waterways affected by the heavy rainfall.

The flooding has also raised concerns about the longer-term impact on residents whose homes and businesses are located in low-lying areas.

Residents point to drainage and waste

Residents’ concerns centre partly on the condition and maintenance of drainage infrastructure.

Akintola told The Guardian that some waterways were blocked with refuse, preventing water from flowing freely. Another resident, identified as Esther, similarly described poor drainage and refuse-filled canals around the Abraham Adesanya axis, saying the difference was noticeable in areas with functioning drainage systems.

A 2026 academic study examining the public realm of Abraham Adesanya and Jakande estates also documented concerns about drainage maintenance, waste overflow, flooded roads and deteriorating infrastructure. The study’s observations and interviews provide additional evidence that drainage and flooding have been recurring community-level concerns in parts of the Lekki Peninsula.

The findings do not establish that every flooding incident in Ogombo or neighbouring communities has a single cause. Heavy rainfall, drainage capacity, waste obstruction, development patterns and the area’s low-lying geography can interact in different ways.

Government responds to flooding

Following the July flooding, the Lagos State Government said it was taking steps to address the situation.

Sanwo-Olu announced plans to review the master plans of flood-prone communities, particularly around the Lekki corridor, after inspecting affected areas. The review was intended to identify planning violations and problems affecting natural drainage systems.

The state government also deployed flood-control equipment to areas affected by the flooding, according to subsequent reports.

The government’s response came as officials faced calls from residents for measures that would prevent communities from repeatedly experiencing the same flooding after heavy rainfall.

The state has also continued enforcement against indiscriminate waste disposal. In September, the Lagos Waste Management Authority announced the arrest of a Meiran resident accused of dumping refuse into a drainage channel during rainfall. The agency said such disposal contributes to blocked drains and flooding.

The wider drainage challenge

Ogombo’s flooding is part of a broader drainage challenge affecting several Lagos communities.

Heavy rainfall earlier in 2026 caused flooding in areas including Oshodi, Mushin, Surulere, Egbeda, Gbagada, Ikorodu and parts of Lekki. Residents in affected communities reported submerged roads and homes, stranded motorists and disruptions to businesses.

The Lagos State Government has attributed some flooding incidents to intense rainfall and the temporary inability of stormwater to discharge into the lagoon when water levels are high. Officials have also repeatedly urged residents to keep drainage channels clear and avoid building on wetlands and drainage setbacks.

For communities such as Ogombo, however, residents say the immediate issue remains practical: ensuring that water has a clear path away from homes and roads.

What residents want

Residents’ concerns extend beyond emergency responses after a flood has already occurred.

They want drainage channels properly designed and maintained, waterways kept free of obstructions and development controlled in areas where construction could interfere with natural water routes.

There is also a shared responsibility around waste disposal. While residents have criticised infrastructure and government enforcement, reports from the community indicate that indiscriminate dumping into canals and drainage channels can worsen the problem.

The challenge for authorities is therefore not simply to respond when roads become submerged, but to maintain drainage infrastructure and address development and waste-management practices before heavy rainfall creates another emergency.

For Ogombo residents, the effectiveness of those measures will ultimately be judged during the next period of intense rainfall.

Until then, recurring flooding remains a community-level concern that continues to affect movement, homes and everyday life in the area.