Flooding: Lagos govt. sounds warning to  residents of Ketu,Alapere, amongst others to relocate

Following the effects of flooding in different states of the country, the Lagos State Government has convened a meeting of all critical stakeholders to evaluate the state’s preparedness for any eventualities.

The situation which has elicited renewed fears among residents of the state was the main reason a meeting was convened on the directives of the state Governor, Bababjide Sanwo-Olu.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, said the stakeholders came up with a resolution that while Lagos is not totally immune from flooding, the state will continue to effectively manage its situation without posing risk to lives and property of residents.

The commissioner made it known that as a result of the latest development, residents of all identified areas like: Ketu, Alapere, Agric, Owode onirin, Ajegunle, Alagbole, Kara, Isheri olowora, Araromi Otun orisha community, Agiliti, Maidan, Mile 12, Odo ogun, Owode elede, Agboyi 1, Agboyi II, Agboyi III which are banks to the Ogun River were alerted to be ready to relocate at any given time.

According to Bello, “Now  is the time for all enforcement arms of the state to step up their supervisory roles.”

He stated that the enforcement impact must be felt by recalcitrant people and institutions who have defied government and built structures on drainage alignments, flood plains and low lying areas now more than ever before so as to save as many lives as possible.

Bello added that despite the fact that Lagos is a coastal city with almost one third of its total landmass under water, what it experiences after each bout of heavy rainfalls is flash flooding which will recede a few hours after the cessation of such rainfalls.

The commissioner, expressing sympathy for victims who have suffered any form of losses due to the prevalence of flooding across the states, assured all that Lagos is constantly monitoring the Ogun River which flows directly into the Lagos Lagoon.

He pointed out that the Seasonal Rainfall Pattern for 2022 released earlier in the year by the Nigerian Meteorological Services (NIMET) had predicted that the peak of the resurgent rainfall for the year will be in October.

Bello, said, “Lagos may be susceptible to dangers of flooding with the periodic release of rain water from Oyan Dam by the managers, the Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority to maintain the sanctity of the dam and which may increase the level of water of the lagoon.”

He stressed that residents failed to realize that the position and location of Lagos State on the map makes the state’s Lagoon the convergence point of all water from the Ogun River, Ona Ibu River, Osun River, Sasha River that runs across many South West States.

Bello explained that the state is also working in tandem with the Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority to ensure that rain water releases that pass through the Oyan Dam have a minimal negative impact on the residents around the area.

The commissioner reiterated that the state, through the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, has embarked on massive dredging and cleaning of all primary and secondary collectors across the state so as to reduce the impact of the flood.

“This is in addition to construction of new channels as well as deployment of the quick response Emergency Flood Abatement Gang to free up manholes and black spots all to ensure that the drains perform at optimum capacity to be able to contain runoffs,” he stated.