Flood: LASG Allays Fear of Residents Over Continuous Heavy Rainfall

. . . Releases Schedule of Water Releases From Oyan River Dam

AgegePulse

The Lagos State Government, on Tuesday, allayed fears of residents on the continuous heavy downpour being experienced in the past few days, assuring that necessary measures are in place to effectively manage the flash floods resulting from the rain.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, gave the assurance at a Press Briefing in Alausa, while outlining measures already put in place for this year’s rainfall pattern, stating that additional heavy rains should be expected in July and September.

He urged all residents of low lying areas like Agboyi-Ketu, Ajegunle and several others to relocate from their residences, without further delay, to avoid being trapped by the rainfall at the risk of their lives and property.

The Commissioner also advised residents living along the plains of Ogun River to be on the alert and take necessary precautions as the Ogun Osun River Basin Authority, which manages the Oyan River Dam will soon commence the seasonal water releases, stressing that the controlled water discharge has become expedient as a result of weather forecasts and the continuous heavy downpour.

In his words: “In July, five million Cubic Meters (MCM) 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 the peak. Then by November gradual reduction of water release to the tube will be 11million cubic metres”.

Bello added that from the prediction of the Nigeria Meteorological Services, NIMET, released early in the year, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events indicated that the year 2020 will likely experience days with extremely high rainfall which may result in flooding.

He stated that the high volume of rainfall being experienced in June will run into July and September, urging Lagosians not to entertain fear because the State Government has mapped out strategies to contain flooding that may be experienced as a result of heavy rainfall.

“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”, Bello stated.

The Commissioner assured members of the public, particularly residents of Aguda, Shomolu, Surulere, Oworonshoki and Idi-Oro, that contractors are already working on all the channels in the area, stating that cleaning usually starts from the lower stream to the upper stream and that the same applies in Aguda, where dredging is moving gradually towards all the areas adjoining LUTH Idi-Araba and Ishaga which are all parts of System 6c.

While stating that Idi-Oro and Olosha in Mushin are areas experiencing issues because of indiscriminate refuse dumping, the Commissioner assured that the Ministry is taking steps to tackle the problem of refuse dumping in the area so that the drainage channels can work effectively.

According to Bello, part of measures taken to dissuade residents from unhindered dumping of refuse was the recent arrest of eight people in Idi-Araba for throwing waste into the canal.

He disclosed that the government is in talks with Ogun State Government to identify a site that will complement the inadequate capacity of Olusosun dumpsite for joint management by both States, warning that the Ministry has empowered its environmental enforcement agents to arrest and prosecute sanitation offenders in Lagos.

Also speaking at the press briefing, the Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Engr. Joe Igbokwe said the issue of flooding was not only peculiar to Nigeria because other countries of the world also experience flooding during the rainy season.

He decried the situation where residents erect shanties on drainage setbacks, dump refuse indiscriminately, block drainage channels and constitute a nuisance to the neighbourhood, stressing that the government would embark on strict enforcement of the environmental laws against perpetrators.

Igbokwe urged Lagosians to embrace the waste to wealth initiative of the State where plastic bottles and Styrofoam can be sorted in exchange for a stipend, adding that in coming days, a commercially viable option would be found for styrofoams.

He also said that the State Government would not rest on its oars in ensuring that Lagosians inculcate the habit of regular maintenance of their immediate environment as doing so remains a collective responsibility.

The Special Adviser, thereafter, advised Lagosians to be safety conscious during this period and urged them to take some safety measures such as staying home during the rains except it is absolutely necessary, being conscious when driving, ensuring that vehicles are in good condition and resisting the urge to drive through flooded areas when it is difficult to ascertain the depth of the water.

Rail Construction: Agege community prone to flooding- Community tells NRC, FG

AgegePulse Magazine

Ajegunle Community

Following the rail construction in Agege, Ajegunle Community in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, the community leaders say the ongoing construction of Lagos–Ibadan Standard gauge line has exposed the community to flooding.

Rail in Agege

Mr Julius Ekemode, a Leader in Ajegunle Agege Community in an interview with AgegePulse Magazine, said that the community was “seriously prone to flooding due to the construction of the new rail lines’’.

Julius urged the Federal Government and Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to come to the rescue of the community and build a canal in the community.

“We are sending a SOS message to government to take proactive measure to prevent the looming disaster as a result of flooding in this community.

“Rail line is good for the society no doubt about it, but our community is in danger of flooding when rain start.

“With little rain we have experienced here in January, just about 30 minutes, everywhere was flooded. (We have a video evidence).

“It was terrible, just imagine what will happen when the rain starts properly.

“The community is now appealing to the government and the NRC to come to our aid and build a canal for us that will withstand the full force of the water during the downpour.

“With high level of the rail line compare to buildings in our community, it’s like we are now in the valley which exposes us to flooding whenever it rains,” he said.

Also, Dr Samuel Olukayode, another community leader, appealed to the government to provide another secondary School for the community as the rail line had disconnected the area from others.

“The only secondary school our children attend is now at the other side of the standard gauge line.

“We can’t afford to put the life our children at risk on daily basis by crossing the rail line to the other side.

“We beg the government to come to our aid quickly before the matter become disaster.

“This is a big community and we don’t want the situation where the matter will go out of hands,” Olukayode said.

Speaking, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, appealed to NRC and Federal Government to do rectification of the drainage channel before the rain started.

Ogundimu, representing Agege Constituency 2, said that the drainage channels constructed by contractor handling the rail line was too small to accommodate the high flow of rain water.

“We want the NRC to come and do rectification in, Ajegunle Agege Community; the drainage provided by the contractor is too small compared to previous canal.

“This is a save our soul message to the government otherwise our people will perish here.

“Now, we have foreseen this problem before occurrence, that is why we are calling on those who are concern to be proactive in solving the problem,” he said.

Flood, Agege

During her visit to the area, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, the Commissioner for Education, urged the community to write to the state government, assuring them that necessary actions would be taken soon.

“Write a letter to the state government about the building of new secondary school in your area, and I am assuring you that your plights would be considered.

“Truly, we won’t allow those small children to be crossing such rail line with top speed, it is too risky.

“The state government will find solutions to all the challenges attached to the new standard gauge line in this area,” Adefisayo said.

LASG Set To Proffer Lasting Solution To Incessant Flooding on Akilo Road, Agege

Lagos State Government has embarked on clearing of silts and reconstruction of drainages at Akilo Road, Agege to tackle incessant flooding ravaging the area.

Over the years, residents and commuters along popular Akilo Road, Agege are often thrown into distress due to constant flooding whenever it rains.

Moreover, there has been several efforts on the part of the community to address the cause of the flooding but the unruly dumping of wastes into gutter from different parts of Ogba Ijaye and Agege has continued to block drainages on Akilo Road.

However, the state government in its efforts to ensure a flood free state swiftly responded to complaints of the residents as Lagos State Public Works Corporation have began the clearing of silts and reconstruction of drainages on the road.

The exercise which began last week is still in progress due to the length of Akilo road.

When Agegepulse visited the site, one of the LSPWC supervisors, Mr. Taiwo Akintokun explained that apart from clearing the silt, the agency will also dig the drainages deeper and wider adding that the drainages will be channelled to a bigger drainage on ACME Road for easy flow of water.