Drainage Clearance: Tokunbo Wahab Denies Bribery Claims, Vows Legal Action

Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has dismissed as false and malicious a viral video alleging that officials of his ministry demanded huge sums from property owners to halt the ongoing demolition of illegal structures at Oral Estate, Ikota.

In a firm rebuttal issued earlier today, Wahab described the allegations as a deliberate attempt to blackmail the government and derail its efforts to safeguard Lagosians from flooding.

“My attention has been drawn to a circulating video containing false and malicious allegations that the Ministry demanded money from property owners to pause the ongoing removal of structures on drainage setbacks at Oral Estate, Ikota. I must state categorically that these claims are entirely false and a deliberate attempt to blackmail the government,” he said.

Wahab stressed that neither he nor any official of the Ministry had ever requested or received any form of payment — not ₦1 billion, ₦700 million, nor even a kobo — from any property owner.

According to him, the exercise to clear Right of Way and canal setbacks across the state remains a public safety priority, not a bargaining chip. “The operation has not been paused for any negotiation or payment. Our work continues,” he stated.

The Commissioner warned that such propaganda only serves as a dangerous distraction from the ministry’s core mission of preventing flooding and protecting millions of residents.

He added that the government is taking the defamatory claims seriously and will pursue legal action to ensure accountability. “We shall be pursuing this matter legally, and the individual behind these claims will be required to provide proof to the appropriate authorities,” Wahab said.

The Commissioner reaffirmed that the Lagos State Government remains unwavering in its commitment to enforcing environmental laws, restoring drainage channels, and keeping the state safe from preventable disasters.