Residents of Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (formerly Queens Drive) in Ikoyi, Lagos State, have appealed to the Federal Government to halt an ongoing land reclamation project, alleging that it has triggered severe flooding, environmental hazards and persistent noise pollution in the area.
The residents claimed that continuous sand-filling of the lagoon has obstructed the natural flow of water, causing canals to overflow into residential compounds whenever it rains.
One of the residents, Mr. Obaro Ibru, said families have endured days of flooding that has damaged homes and forced residents to remain awake through the night bailing out water.
According to him, the flooding has affected bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms, creating serious health and safety concerns.
He alleged that the project, which was reportedly justified as a flood protection measure, has instead worsened flooding in the neighbourhood.
“We never had flooding like this before. There is absolutely no regard for the environment and the people being affected,” he said.
Ibru also complained about round-the-clock dredging activities, saying residents have been subjected to constant noise pollution.
“We also suffer from 24-hour daily noise pollution from the dredgers working all night. It’s totally inhumane,” he added.
Another resident, Mr. Daniel Gozama, said the reclamation work had altered the natural drainage system by restricting the flow of water into the lagoon.
He noted that residents had to hire workers to remove floodwater and debris from their compounds following recent heavy rainfall.
“We are only appealing to the government to look into the situation,” Gozama said.
The residents are urging both the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government to investigate the project and suspend further reclamation activities until measures are put in place to prevent flooding and protect surrounding communities.
