By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Residents of flood-affected communities in the Kosofe Federal Constituency have renewed calls for lasting solutions to the perennial flooding that continues to disrupt lives and destroy property, despite years of government interventions.
The renewed appeal comes as officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) visited the constituency on Tuesday to assess the impact of the latest flooding and engage with affected residents.
During the visit, NEMA officials toured some of the worst-hit communities, interacting with displaced families and evaluating the extent of the damage. The agency said the assessment would guide the provision of emergency relief materials and inform longer-term recovery efforts.
For many residents, however, the visit has revived memories of previous government promises that they say have yet to translate into permanent solutions.
Community members recalled that in 2010, former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola visited the Ajegunle area of Kosofe following severe flooding that displaced hundreds of residents. The visit raised expectations that comprehensive flood-control measures and improved drainage infrastructure would be implemented.
Sixteen years later, residents say the constituency remains vulnerable to seasonal flooding, with many communities experiencing repeated losses of homes, property and livelihoods whenever heavy rains occur.
They attributed the recurring crisis to inadequate drainage infrastructure, poor urban planning and the absence of sustained environmental interventions, urging both the Federal and Lagos State Governments to move beyond emergency responses.
While welcoming NEMA’s latest intervention, residents stressed that relief materials alone cannot solve the problem. They called for a comprehensive flood management plan, improved drainage systems and sustained infrastructure investment to protect lives and property across the Kosofe Federal Constituency.
As the rainy season continues, stakeholders say only a long-term and coordinated approach will end the cycle of annual flooding that has affected communities in the constituency for more than a decade.