Lagos govt allays fears of residents on rainfall

Lagos State government on Monday assured residents that it had put in place necessary measures to address challenges posed by heavy rainfall, as rainy season gradually approaches.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Fola Adeyemi and his counterpart in the Ministry of the Environment, Mr Abiodun Bamgboye, gave this assurance in a joint statement released in Alausa, urging Lagosians to remain calm, even as they described the unpredictable pattern of rainfall currently being experienced as a natural outcome of climate change.

According to the state government, it is not unusual to occasionally experience flash-floods, especially in a coastal state like Lagos, as well as during rain of high intensity, as they occurred on Monday, assuring Lagosians that in a matter of time, they would all disappear and be contained by the drainages.

“Sometimes when it rains, we are likely to have flash-floods on our roads as it sometimes happens in other parts of the world, but the relief here is that the flash-floods will disappear in a couple of hours,” the statement said.

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The statement also assured Lagosians that relevant government agencies, like Drainage Services Department, LASEMA, LASPARK, among others had been put on red alert to adequately respond to any unforeseen occurrences, during rains of high intensity as well as cart away fallen trees, electricity poles and confront any other emergencies, during the rains.

“Similarly, Lagos State Public Works Corporation is already on ground to clean the drainage channels, drainage set-backs, and other road debris,” the statement added.

The government, however, appealed to Lagosians to desist from the act of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drains as well as erecting structures on drainages and their alignments, warning that these acts were capable of precipitating flooding.

“The general public is urged to promptly report cases of indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels and unauthorised places as well as other incidents of drainage blockage to the relevant government agencies,” the statement further added.

It equally enjoined Lagosians and motorists to be safety conscious during this period, urging them to take some safety measures like remaining indoors during the rains except when it was absolutely necessary, and avoid over-speeding, when driving.

The state government further called on drivers to ensure their vehicles were in good condition and avoid driving through flooded areas that their depths might be difficult to ascertain.

While advising Lagosians resident along flood plains and low-lands to be alert and safety conscious, the state government assured that it would continue to intensify efforts at containing the flood, stressing that it had and would continue to painstakingly maintain all primary and secondary channels during and after the rainy season.