As rainfall intensifies around Lagos, the state government has asked all residents of low-lying areas, including Agboyi-Ketu and Ajegunle, to relocate without delay.
Also; people who live along the plains of the Ogun River are advised to be on alert and take necessary precautions.
This is because of plans by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority to begin seasonal release of water from the Oyan River Dam.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, TUNJI BELLO, made this known during a media briefing at Alausa, Ikeja on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
BELLO also said necessary measures were being put in place to manage flash floods that may occur due to the increasing rainfall.
He said the Ogun Osun River Basin Authority, which manages the Oyan River Dam will soon commence seasonal water releases from the dam. He said that the controlled water discharge from the dam is as a result of weather forecasts and the continuous heavy downpour.
“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”, the Commissioner said.
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 said 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 Commissioner said “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.
He 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. He said that the 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.