Lagos Government say we’ve taken adequate measures against flooding

The Lagos State Government has called on the residents of the state not to panic as a result of predictions of serious flooding, saying that it had taken a number of precautionary measures to guard against any form of disaster.

The assurance came barely two days after the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) alerted Lagos State and some other states in the South West that they would experience heavy rainfall and flooding.

However, speaking on Saturday, the commissioner for environment in the state, Mr Tunji Bello, said that although the state government had always undertaken routine flood prevention measures, it had stepped up preparations in view of heavy rainfall predicted this year in the state.

Bello said part of the measures taken by the government included construction of new drainage channels, canals and aggressive expansion of existing ones.


 
He said: “We are also desalting drains and we are clearing canals across the state to ensure free flow of water whenever it rained.

“This is apart from a number of other projects we are undertaking in the lowland areas to remove vulnerabilities.

“As we are doing all this, we are appealing to residents to desist from practices such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse, building on flood plains and others that could block drainage channels and cause flooding.

“Flooding is one the realities of climate change which affects countries with even the best drainage systems.

“Therefore, all Lagosians should adopt environment friendly practices and join forces with government to fight it”.

Bello urged residents in low lands to be at alert and be ready to be evacuated to safe areas during heavy downpour.

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