How Blocked Drains, Indiscriminate Waste Dumping Fuel Deaths, Worsening Nigeria’s Flood Crisis

BY RICHARD NDOMA, Calabar; AZA MSUE, Kaduna; FELIX IGBEKOYI, Asaba and INIOBONG EKPONTA, Uyo

Across Nigeria’s flood-prone cities, blocked drains and indiscriminate waste dumping have been blamed for worsening the country’s flood crisis, with the environmental challenge linked to loss of lives, widespread flooding and the collapse of structures weakened by prolonged exposure to water since the rainy season began.

LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that in several affected communities, whenever rainfall begins, some residents rush out with bags of refuse and empty their waste bins directly into drainage channels, waterways and gutters, turning critical flood-control systems into dumping sites and worsening the free flow of storm water.

Our correspondents report that from densely populated urban centres in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Abia and others, to major highways, drainage channels designed to carry storm water have increasingly become temporary refuse sites.

When LEADERSHIP Weekend correspondents visited some affected flood sites, they observed that plastic waste, household garbage, discarded furniture and other debris had accumulated in drainage channels and waterways, obstructing the free flow of water and worsening flooding whenever heavy rains occurred.

In some areas, floodwaters remained stagnant long after rainfall had stopped, with residents attributing the prolonged flooding to blocked drainage systems that only became passable after the debris are removed

An investigation across parts of Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Abia, the Federal Capital Territory and other flood-prone areas revealed how gaps in waste management systems and environmental enforcement are worsening the impact of flooding on communities, businesses and road users.

Residents in affected communities told our correspondents that the problem becomes more severe during rainfall because some people deliberately empty their waste into drains immediately it starts raining, believing that floodwater will wash the refuse away.

But instead of disappearing, the waste settles in drainage channels, blocks water passages and forces floodwater back into streets, homes and businesses.

 Roads Becoming Refuse Dumps:

Beyond residential areas, major roads and city centres in Cross River, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Delta and even in the Federal Capital Territory, are increasingly feeling the impact of poor waste management.

In parts of Abuja, including the Gwagwalada axis, residents and commuters have raised concerns over blocked drainage channels and areas where refuse accumulation has affected movement. Along the Nyanya-Karu corridor, heavy human and vehicular activities combined with poor waste disposal have continued to challenge drainage management.

In Imo State, sections of the Orji-Okigwe and Aba Road have also witnessed complaints over refuse heaps and environmental challenges, with commuters sometimes forced to navigate around waste and flooded portions of the road during heavy rainfall.

Across several cities, pedestrians and motorists have struggled to pass through areas where refuse has overwhelmed drainage systems, turning what should be public infrastructure into environmental hazards.

Failed Waste Management Systems:

While residents have been accused of indiscriminate dumping, some stakeholders argue that inadequate waste collection systems have also contributed to the problem.

In some states, waste management contractors initially engaged by governments to evacuate refuse have reportedly withdrawn their services after disputes over payment, leaving communities without regular waste collection.

Environmental experts say the failure to maintain consistent waste evacuation systems creates a vacuum that encourages residents to seek alternative disposal methods, including dumping in drainage channels and waterways.