Sanwo-Olu Visits Flood-Ravaged Lekki Corridor, Orders Drainage Improvements

Sanwo-Olu Visits Flood-Ravaged Lekki Corridor, Orders Drainage Improvements
Assures Residents of Government Action
NIHSA Lists Lagos, 13 Other States at Flood Risk

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured residents of flood-affected communities in the Lekki corridor that the state government will intensify efforts to prevent future flooding after personally inspecting areas impacted by recent heavy rainfall.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the governor, accompanied by Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat, commissioners and other cabinet members, toured flood-prone communities including Awoyaya, Ogombo, Sangotedo and the Chevron axis of Lekki and Ajah to assess the extent of the flooding and evaluate the condition of drainage channels and waterways.

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Sanwo-Olu said the inspection was aimed at obtaining first-hand information on the situation and identifying both immediate and long-term solutions to recurring flooding.

According to him, the assessment showed that many drainage channels and tributaries remained functional, but the unusually heavy rainfall experienced in recent weeks overwhelmed parts of the drainage system, leading to flooding in several communities.

He explained that the natural waterways and tributaries in the Lekki corridor continue to discharge into the Lagos Lagoon and eventually the Atlantic Ocean, but the volume of rainfall significantly raised water levels.

The governor said the state government would continue dredging, clearing and expanding drainage infrastructure, particularly in rapidly developing areas, to improve water flow and reduce flooding.

Sanwo-Olu also assured residents whose homes and property were affected that government was assessing the damage and would provide necessary relief.

He disclosed that some relief centres had already been activated for affected residents and pledged continued support for vulnerable communities.

The governor, however, warned that the rainy season was still ongoing and advised residents living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to temporarily relocate to safer locations whenever necessary.

Sanwo-Olu Visits Flood-Ravaged Lekki Corridor, Orders Drainage Improvements — Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat (left); Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab; Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, and others, during their visit to the flood affected area in Lagos, yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a flood advisory warning that 14 states, including Lagos, may experience a medium flood risk between July 14 and July 20.

Director-General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, said the advisory was based on the agency’s latest hydrological forecast, which identified 16 monitoring stations as high-risk locations for localised flooding along major river channels.

The states listed in the advisory are Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger and Plateau.