Lagos awards contract for Ebute-Meta Railway drainage channel

By Isaac Joseph Inyang

The Lagos State Government has awarded a contract for the construction of the Carter–Railway Drainage Channel, a major intervention aimed at addressing persistent flooding within the Ebute-Meta railway compound and neighbouring communities.

The project was unveiled at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) premises in Lagos, where officials confirmed that the drainage channel, identified as System 4, will be constructed within the Lagos Mainland Local Government Area.

According to details presented at the meeting, the reinforced concrete drainage channel will stretch from Murtala Muhammed Way, Ebute-Meta, pass through the Nigerian Railway Corporation corridor, and terminate at a confluence point in Iponri on Western Avenue.

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Briefing stakeholders, the Director of Drainage Services at the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Engr. Adedapo Ajadi said the project is designed to provide a permanent solution to the long-standing flooding challenges affecting the NRC compound and surrounding communities.

He disclosed that construction is expected to last approximately 18 months and appealed for the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure smooth project execution.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, praised the Lagos State Government for the initiative and assured full cooperation from the corporation.

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He noted that upon completion, the drainage infrastructure would become an asset of the NRC and significantly contribute to deflooding the railway corridor and nearby communities.

Institutions within the area also expressed support for the project. Speaking on behalf of St. Saviour’s School, Agatha Usman described flooding as an annual challenge that has left staff and students anxious whenever it rains.

Similarly, Mr. Taye Olaniyi, representing the Railway Museum, said the project would greatly alleviate flooding issues within the railway community.

The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute-Meta, Dr. Sam Oguine, also commended the state government, noting that the drainage channel would help safeguard critical health facilities in the area from flood-related risks.

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Stakeholders present at the meeting included representatives from St. Saviour’s School, CCECC quarters, NRC staff quarters, NTA Channel 10, churches, mosques, NRC stations, the Railway Museum, FMC General Hospital, FMC Cancer Hospitals, Ojez Limited, as well as manufacturing companies and MSMEs operating within the corridor.

Following the meeting, directors from various NRC departments, alongside representatives of the corporation’s in-house unions, conducted a joint inspection of the proposed drainage corridor to assess the project alignment and identify areas that may be affected during construction.