Nollywood actor Kunle Remi has condemned the poor sanitation habits of Lagosians, blaming the recurring flooding in parts of the state on careless waste disposal and a lack of environmental responsibility.
The rain, which began on Sunday, June 30th, left many houses severely flooded, roads waterlogged, causing traffic congestion and stranding several motorists across the state.
In some local governments, such as Gbagada, floodwaters disrupted traffic, with several vehicles developing faults after driving through the submerged roads.
Reacting to the heavy flood, Remi known for his humorous but blunt commentary on social issues, took to social media to accuse citizens of dumping refuse in drainage channels and public spaces, thereby contributing to flooding.
“Let’s call a spade a spade. Nigerians are dirty people, and that is why there is flood everywhere,” Remi said.
The actor went further, urging Nigerians to take greater responsibility for their environment, warning that blocked drainage would continue to worsen flooding, especially during heavy rainfall.
He said, “Let’s stop throwing trash into drainage. Let’s stop blocking the drainage. We are just animals. Be vigilant, open your eyes. Speak up when you see people doing it. Correct them. Even when people throw things out of moving cars, call them out.”
The actor also criticised the lack of discipline in public spaces, particularly among commuters who carelessly dispose of waste.
“People eat groundnuts in the bus and throw the nylon outside. Why won’t it flood?” he asked.
Remi warned that the flooding situation was getting worse, especially in Lagos, where many roads and neighbourhoods are often submerged after heavy rainfall.
“But jokes apart, it is getting worse. At a point, everyone in Lagos will be using trucks. If you need to get a truck, start getting it because once you are using a saloon car, you are in trouble. You have to get a truck or an SUV,” he stated.
He maintained that the flooding crisis could be mitigated if citizens became more conscious of their actions and stopped improperly disposing of waste.
“If all of us are conscious about it, speak about it, and do the right thing by not throwing things out, it would be better. This flood thing is just dirtiness,” he added.