LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Blocked drainage channels filled with plastic waste are worsening flooding, increasing health risks, and disrupting businesses across Lagos, with residents calling for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations.
Across markets, roads and residential areas, discarded nylon bags, plastic bottles, sachet water wraps and takeaway packs now dominate drainage channels, especially after rainfall.
These waste products have caused damage to the environment, clogged drainage systems, continuously causing traffic congestion, led to poor sanitation and has increased malaria infections.
In a survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), many residents said that the situation has become a daily struggle that threatens livelihoods, public health and commercial activities.
At Oshodi Market, household items trader Mrs Taiwo Adeyemi said blocked gutters regularly cause floodwater to spill into shops whenever heavy rain falls.
“Anytime rain falls, water gathers around our shops because nylon bags and bottles have blocked the gutters. Traders struggle daily to keep the environment clean,” she said.
She explained that despite restrictions on single-use plastics, many traders still depend on nylon bags because cheaper alternatives are difficult to find.
“The government banned some plastics, but people still use them in markets because paper or reusable options cost more,” Adeyemi stated.
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Similarly, residents in Ikeja said stagnant water trapped in blocked drainage systems has led to mosquito infestations and offensive odours in several streets.
Miss Chisom Benson described the environmental conditions as unhealthy for residents.
“Dirty water stays for days because plastics block the drainage. Mosquitoes and bad smell have become part of daily life,” she said.
Also, business owners in Agege Market reported that unsanitary conditions around clogged drains are discouraging customers from visiting the area.
Food vendor Mrs Aribike noted that many traders still rely heavily on styrofoam food packs and nylon bags because they remain affordable and easy to access.
“Customers often complain about dirty surroundings and foul smells near the market,” she added.
Meanwhile, transportation activities have also been affected.
As commercial bus driver Mr Power Salami put it, “Once rain starts, traffic builds up because gutters filled with plastics overflow onto the roads.”
In several low-income communities, residents also expressed concern over the burning of accumulated plastic waste.
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Many fear the smoke poses serious health dangers, particularly to children and elderly people.
“People burn the waste because it piles up quickly, but the smoke affects everyone, especially children,” a resident of Agege, Madam Mutiat, reported.
Another resident, Mrs Ibukun Momodu, linked the poor drainage conditions to repeated malaria outbreaks within her community.
“We treat malaria almost every month because mosquitoes breed around blocked drains and plastic waste,” she said.
Consequently, many residents are urging authorities to strengthen enforcement against single-use plastics while encouraging supermarkets and major retailers to adopt reusable or paper packaging alternatives.
Environmental findings show that Nigeria generates more than 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, with over 70 percent ending up in landfills, drainage systems and water bodies.
In Lagos alone, between 50 million and 60 million discarded sachet water nylons are reportedly generated daily, worsening pollution and urban flooding.
Environmental advocate Mr Friday Oku blamed the growing plastic pollution crisis on weak implementation of environmental policies, poor public awareness and ineffective waste separation systems.
According to him, informal waste collectors should be fully integrated into the waste management process to improve recycling and reduce pollution.
“The government needs to properly integrate the informal sector into the waste management value chain,” Oku noted.
He added that informal waste workers could help recover recyclable materials directly from communities before refuse reaches dump sites, thereby reducing pressure on drainage systems and improving environmental sustainability.
Ultimately, the growing plastic waste challenge in Lagos continues to highlight the urgent need for stronger waste management policies, public education campaigns and affordable alternatives to single-use plastics to protect residents, businesses and public health.
(NAN)
