Lagos State Government on Monday, August 4, called for calm from all residents of the state as they experienced heavy downpour in the last 12 hours, giving an assurance that resilient infrastructure to combat flash flooding has been put in place.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement personally signed by him, informed residents that a new weather advisory from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency on Monday warned of heavy rainfall and thunderstorm for the next three days.
He stated that it is not impossible that some parts of the state might experience flash flooding because of the inability of the major collectors to contain the run-off resulting from the very heavy rainfalls.
He reminded them of the peculiar nature of Lagos as a coastal city, coupled with the effect of climate change, which makes it susceptible to vagaries of flash flooding, just as he urged the residents not to panic.
He explained that with Lagos being a coastal state, and the heavy rainfalls, the level of water in the lagoon is bound to rise and will result in a tidal lock which would prevent discharge from all collectors.
According to him, all areas that are abutting the rivers and lagoons in lagos are also at risk of experiencing flash floods, which might come with high currents.
In view of the holiday period that most pupils and students are currently at home, he called for extra vigilance so that they would not go outside to play under the rain or swim in the flash floods.
The Commissioner also reiterated the earlier advisory to motorists and pedestrians not to wade through floods, as there is the tendency that vehicles might be submerged and people swept away with such heavy floods.
He warned residents not to engage in disposing their refuse into the drains as the rains fall, warning that there are consequences for such acts, as the refuse would end up blocking the drains and causing flash floods.
The Commissioner said the state is intensifying the year-round cleaning and maintenance of all drainage channels as well as awarding contracts for the concrete lining of new ones to be able to contain run off from rainfalls.
He warned that whenever rain falls more than usual, as Lagos witnessed in the last 12 hours, all concerted efforts would be required to checkmate its effects.
