Flooding: Lagos Embarks On Dredging Of Canals

Lagos State is prepared to mitigate any impact of the ravaging flood, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tunji Bello has said.

Eko Hot Blog reports that he spoke during a meeting with critical stakeholders to evaluate the state’s preparedness for any eventuality.

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According to him, the state, through the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, has embarked on massive dredging and cleaning of all primary and secondary collectors across the state.

“This is in addition to the construction of new channels as well as deployment of the quick response Emergency Flood Abatement Gang to free up manholes and black spots, all to ensure that the drains perform at optimum capacity to be able to contain runoffs,” he said.

The commissioner, who sympathised with victims, added that Lagos is constantly monitoring the Ogun River which flows directly into the Lagos Lagoon. He also noted that Lagos may be susceptible to flooding with the periodic release of rainwater from Oyan Dam by the Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority. He, therefore, directed residents of river banks to relocate.

Residents of all identified areas like Ketu, Alapere, Agric, Owode Onirin, Ajegunle, Alagbole, Kara, Isheri Olowora, Araromi Otun orisha community, Agiliti, Maidan, Mile 12, Odo Ogun, Owode Elede, Agboyi 1, Agboyi II, Agboyi III, which are banks to the Ogun River, were thus told to prepare for relocation at any time.

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The state also directed all relevant enforcement arms of the state to step up their supervisory roles to contain any eventuality. He stressed that the enforcement impact must be felt by recalcitrant people and institutions who defy the government by building structures on drainage alignments, flood plains, and low-lying areas.

Bello also noted that despite Lagos being a coastal city, with almost one-third of its total landmass underwater, what it experiences after heavy rainfalls is flash flooding which will recede a few hours after the cessation of such rainfalls.

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