Flooding: Lagos warns residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, clogging drains

The Lagos State government yesterday urged residents to refrain from acts that can lead to flash flooding in the state with the coming of rains this month.

“To effectively contain flooding in our state, we are determined to continue the long-established synergy and partnership with the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), which has ensured control and monitoring of the steady and systemic release of water from Oyan Dam to prevent flooding of the downstream reaches of the Ogun River.

“This mutual relationship has been highly beneficial in the past, and we intend to sustain it.

“Therefore, the low-lying areas of Agiliti, Agboyi, Itowolo and Ajegunle communities in Lagos State are being closely monitored with respect to the likelihood of Ogun River overflowing its banks as well as all other river basins in the state,” he said.

The commissioner tasks Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) to be on standby to make sure advertising and communication agencies comply with regulations on the safety of billboards and telecommunication masts to prevent the incidences of telecommunication mast collapse caused by high wind speed, as it is expected during the onset and cessation of every rainfall season.

“This is to put all emergency response organisations, traffic management organisations, and other emergency-related organisations on high alert to help lessen the damaging effects of thunderstorms and associated heavy rainfalls in the state.

Wahab stressed that it is the case in several coastal cities across the world, to have flash floods when it rains, which will percolate or drain off rapidly, a few hours after.

According to him, it is only when such floods remain on the roads for several hours that we can report that a particular area is flooded.

“I therefore wish to plead with the media to avoid screaming and sensational headlines that cause panic.”

“We all need to be wary of another contributory factor to flooding, which is the rise in Lagoon level. Anytime there is high tidal movement, it may “lock up” the discharge points of drainage channels and until it recedes, there will be no discharge.

“Such occurrences also cause backflow, resulting to flash flooding. But as soon as the Lagoon water level recedes, all the generated storm water will immediately be discharged, and our roads will be free,” he added.
 
He noted that the present proactive administration in the State, in response to the above phenomena, has strengthened the Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) to deliver reliable, timely and effective flood information at an appropriate response time to also aid adequate preparations.

He also promised to continue to step up their enlightenment efforts to sensitise and advise communities in coastal and low-lying wetland areas of the state, to move upland to avoid needless loss of lives and property, when the need arises. We will also continue to protect our water bodies from indiscriminate discharge of solid waste as well as erection of illegal structures along the drainage alignment/setback.