The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources in Lagos, Tunji Bello, has warned residents in low lying places and those living along Ogun River to take precautions, including relocating, as rainy season intensifies in the state.
Mr. Bello made this known while briefing journalists on the measures put in place by the government for this year’s rainfall patterns, adding that high volume of rainfall currently experienced will continue in July and September.
He said residents in low lying areas, including Agboyi Ketu, Ajegunle and other places should relocate without further delay, to avoid being trapped by heavy rain which may result to flood.
The Commissioner also placed those living along the plains of Ogun River on alert. He said the Ogun Osun River Basin Authority — which manages the Oyan River Dam — would commence seasonal discharge of water. He said the water discharge had become necessary because of weather forecast and continuous heavy rainfall.
“In July, five million cubic metres will be released while by August, they will release eight to 10 million cubic metres. In September, it will be increased to 18 million cubic metres while in October, 23 million cubic metres will be released which is peak. Then by November gradual reduction of water release to the tube will be 11 million cubic metres,” Mr Bello stated.
On the government’s plan to mitigate the impact of heavy rainfall, Mr Bello said the State had embarked on clearing water channels in Aguda, Shomolu, Surulere, Oworonshoki and Idi-Oro. He added that dredging activities were on-going.
“The State government is presently working on 222 secondary channels out of which 146 have been completed across the State, just as 46 primary Channels are presently receiving attention, in addition to the efforts of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gangs (EFAG) that are being deployed around the State to undertake quick fix to free manholes or clogged up drains manually,” Mr Bello explained
The Commissioner revealed that the Lagos government was in talks with its Ogun counterpart to identify a location and set up a dumpsite that will be jointly-managed. He said this would help complement the capacity of the Olusosun dumpsite.
Also at the briefing, the Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Engineer Joe Igbokwe, said that flooding was not peculiar to Nigeria as other countries experience flooding during rainy season. He warned residents to desist from erecting shanties on drainage setback, dumping refuse indiscriminately and blocking drainage channels.
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