Managing Floods In Lagos

Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET) in its year 2020 annual Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, (SRP), predicted heavy rainfall with flooding in most parts of the country, particularly, Lagos State in June.

Rightly so, the state has witnessed heavy downpour with last week’s unending session which forced residents to stay indoors even on the days scheduled for markets under the COVID-19 restrictions.

This is not the first time Lagos State is experiencing flood but what steps has the government taken to prevent the devastating effects of these floods?

There is a huge responsibility on the part of the government to do better in time like this, areas affected which include; Lekki, Oworosoki, Ajah, Ageege, Victoria Island, Ifako, Ogudu, Ayobo, Gbagada, Iyana-Ipaja, and Ebutte Metta.

There is a need for the government to be proactive in combating flood issues in the state by clearing drinages as well as using interlocking pacers when constructing roads in flood-prone areas to reduce flood impact.

MMS Plus reporters observed some areas within the state to know the impact of the flood across several locations.

In a popular area in the Oshodi axis known as Ogunoloko – Oja Oke, residents woke up to see three electric poles lying flat on the road with extension wires. Several buildings reportedly collapsed in different parts of the state with serious gridlock and vehicles breakdown.

Vehicles were stuck causing heavy gridlock with little or no movement for several hours. The Alakija area in Festac also had its share of the flood leaving commuters stranded in a long gridlock that lasted for several hours.

Meanwhile, motorists tend to be at advantage as there was scarcity of transportation; prices became hiked leaving commuters with no choice than to pay the hiked prices.

One of the major challenges leading to the horrifying effects on rainfall in Lagos is poor waste management leading to blocked drainages across various parts of the state.

However, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) had earlier warned residents to desist from indiscriminate refuse disposal in drainage and water channels in order to prevent heavy flooding and possible loss of lives and property as the rainfall intensifies.

The state government needs to do better and help in compliance of how to have fewer casualties in coming days as this could be tagged the phase one of the flood as projected by NiMET.