Lagos State Govt Assures Of Adequate Measures To Handle Persistent Rainfall

The Lagos State Government on Thursday reassured residents that measures are already in place to address the challenges posed by incessant rainfall witnessed across the metropolis in the last three days, just as the various flood abatement gangs continue to clean and maintain the channels.

Speaking with the media after an unscheduled inspection of some of the major drainage systems in Lagos, the State Commissioner for The Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello and Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Engineer Joe Igbokwe, said residents should rest assured that irrespective of the volume of the rainfall, it would flow through the drains to discharge into the various channels.

The Commissioner reminded the people of the Executive Order signed by the Governor on zero tolerance for indiscriminate dumping of refuse, warning against acts that could aggravate flooding such as depositing of refuse in drains as well as erecting of structures on drainage lines and alignments.

He stated that while relevant government agencies are on alert for any unforeseen incident, residents must be vigilant and promptly report cases of indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels and unauthorised places as well as other incidents of drainage blockage to the relevant government agencies.

Bello also advised Lagosians to be safety conscious during this period, urging them to take some safety measures such as staying indoors during the rains except when absolutely necessary as well as not overspeeding and being conscious while driving.

He stressed that Lagosians residing along flood plains and low-lands should be alert and ready to move to safety whenever the need arises, affirming that government would continue to intensify efforts at containing flood in the State while painstakingly maintaining all primary and secondary channels periodically.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Engineer Joe Igbokwe advised Lagosians to remain calm and not panic as the rainfall currently being experienced in Lagos State is a natural outcome of climate change and has been predicted by the Nigerian Metrological Services.

He noted that Lagos, being a coastal State, will usually experience flash floods which are expected to disappear after a few hours without any negative and attendant loss of lives and property, maintaining that work is ongoing round the clock to ensure that all the drains already cleared are not clogged up again.

The Permanent Secretaries of the Office of Environmental Services, Mrs. Ronke Odeneye and Office of Drainage Service and Water Resources, Engineer Lekan Shodeinde also led a team of Directors in the Ministries to other flood-prone areas of Lagos.