Bello cautions residents on flood plains, low line areas
As the month of July arrives, Lagos State residents have been urged to prepare for high intensity rainfall with wind and thunder storm.
This call was issued Sunday by the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, in the wake of the reports from Nigeria Metrological Agency (NIMET), and the need to sensitise Lagosians as rainy season approaches.
Bello advised residents in the state not to panic whenever it rains as they would experience accumulated water concentration on some part of the roads and highways, depending on the intensity of the rains. “Lagosians are however assured that the accumulated water will recede in no time,” he said.
According to him, it had been raining since January and this has increased the water level of the soil, thereby making infiltration capacity to be very low across the state.
He further explained that concentration of water had led to the saturation of the soil, which would henceforth cause delayed discharge of rain water into the water bodies.
Bello, however, assured Lagosians that whatever flash flood recorded during the rains, it would gradually discharge in less than 24 hours, because of the effectiveness of the drainage channels in the state.
Residents along flood plains, low line areas and other coast lines, like Ajegunle, Owode-Onirin axis, Owode-Elelede, Kuramo beach, Alpha beach, Okun-mapo, Okun Ajah, Mende-Maryland, Ijora-Badia, Iwaya were urged to be extremely careful or possibly vacate their residence temporarily once they notice gradual accumulation of rising water and move to higher grounds “as the state is not ready to lose any life during the rainy period.”
“Lagos is a coastal state and as such, is susceptible to flash flood anytime there is rain of high intensity, however what is of utmost importance to this administration is to ensure that, whatever flash flood experienced is effectively discharged into our channels that have been dredged and cleaned, in anticipation of this year’s rain.
“Lagos residents are further encouraged to relate effectively with deployed Resident Engineers and Drainage Maintenance Officers, whose phone numbers was recently published in the print and electronic media to alert them whenever they have flooding challenges,” he said.
The commissioner also advised Lagosians to be safety conscious during this period, stating some safety measures as “Avoid going out during the rains expect only when it is compulsory. Be conscious when driving do not over speed and ensure that your vehicles are in good condition and do not drive through flooded areas as it might be difficult to identify its depth; but rather refrain from during through the flooded areas.”
