Lagos intensifies campaign against flooding

Following an increase in the frequency and extent of flooding, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has called for synergy among stakeholders to reduce the impact of flooding.

The Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, made the call during the agency’s advocacy campaign against flooding across local councils in the state. The agency had taken the campaign to Lagos West Senatorial District and plans to visit flood prone areas in the Lagos East Senatorial District to sensitise residents.

Speaking on “Flood free Lagos 2023, building resilience is our collective responsibility” at Eti-Osa Local Council, Oke-Osanyintolu, said it is imperative for residents to continue to abide by environmental rules and regulations, as the government is committed to safe-guarding life and properties.

The Permanent Secretary told representatives of Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the area, who converged on the council secretariat at Igbo-Efon that EtiOsa is vulnerable to ocean surge and flooding.

Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu explained that if the drainage systems were kept free of refuse, there would be no casualty during heavy rains.

He said: “Following the flooding experienced in 2007 and 2011, the State has boosted its flood resilience and if we the people do the needful, there will be no emergency and mortality during heavy rain falls. What we have when it is raining is flash flood, if we stay indoors, keep the water channels free, the loss if there is any, will be minimal, I therefore, appeal to you to let us do it together, and it is our collective responsibility.”

The Supervisor for the Environment in the council, Mr. Sharafa Balogun, said although Eti-Osa is in the middle of the Lagoon and prone to flooding during the rainy season, the council has been sensitising residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

Members of the CDAs at the forum lamented that the drainage system in Eti-Osa has become small as a result of population growth and appealed to the government to expand them. They called for urgent actions to tame activities of sand dredgers in the council.