Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos commissioner for environment and water resources, says the state has begun deploying artificial intelligence (AI)-driven systems to detect early warning signs of flooding.
Wahab spoke on Tuesday during an interview on Arise News
while outlining the state’s flood preparedness strategy.
He said Lagos is particularly vulnerable to flooding due to
its coastal geography, and that that areas such as Lekki were originally swamps
before being reclaimed for urban development.
“We are a coastal state. We share 187 kilometres of our
borderline with the Atlantic. Twenty-five percent of our 3,577 square
kilometres is water,” Wahab said.
The commissioner said the government has introduced
AI-powered monitoring systems to track water levels and waterways in real time
across the state.
According to him, the initiative complements existing flood
control measures, including a dedicated “flood abatement gang” within the
ministry.
Wahab said the team operates round the clock to clear
drainage channels and ensure free flow of water, noting that effective drainage
management could address up to half of the state’s flooding challenges.
“We’ve now set up early warning signs — AI-driven,
technology-driven — to monitor our waterways and water levels statewide,” the
commissioner said.
“Last Friday, we also announced to Lagosians what the rainy
season will be like.
“We have a gang in the ministry — the flood abatement gang —
working 24 hours daily. If they succeed, about 50 percent of the drainage and
flood issues in Lagos will be resolved.”
Wahab said the government will continue to remove illegal
structures obstructing waterways and replace them with nature-based or
engineered solutions, including mangrove planting, wetland preservation, and
drainage infrastructure.
He also warned against indiscriminate waste disposal,
reiterating that open burning of refuse is illegal in the state.
“For those that burn waste, it’s unlawful in Lagos state. We
have also deployed air quality monitors across the state,” he added.
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