Residents of Ikorodu division and three other councils in Lagos state, particularly those living on the flood plains, have been warned to be alerted to floods during this current raining season.
This warning was issued by the Lagos State Government through a statement released recently by the office of the Honourable Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello.
The affected councils, namely Ikorodu Local Government, Lagos Mainland Local Government, Mushin Local Government and Ibeju Local Government, have been identified by the government as high flood risk areas which have been contending with heavy flood since the rain commenced few weeks back, a situation which has wrecked untold havoc especially in Ikorodu where hundreds of residents have been displaced from their homes and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
The government also sounded the warming over the looming flood to residents of other fifteen councils in the states, namely Lagos Island, Alimosho, AmuwoOdofin, Ikeja, Kosofe, Eti-OsaApapa, Ojo, Oshodi/Isolo, Agege, IfakoIjaiye, Badagry, Surulere and Ajeromi-Ifelodun.
In the statement, Mr. Bello explained that the four councils which have been identified as highly probable flood risk areas will witness heavy rainfall between now and September, and as a result, urged residents with structure in these localities and other lowland areas to relocate without delay to avoid any untoward incident that may come with flooding and loss of life and properties.
He assured that the ministry will intensify the ongoing efforts at clearing blocked drainages being undertaking by the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG) all over the black spots in the state.
While describing as unimaginable, the heaps of pet plastic bottles, styro foams and solid waste being excavated daily from drainage channels in Mushin, Idi-Oro, Idi-Araba, LUTH and Mile -2 among other areas within the Lagos Metropolis, Mr. Bello appealed to the residents across the state to desist from indiscriminate disposal of waste and also to stop patronizing itinerant cart pushers.
Furthermore, the commissioner, relying on investigation, said that some traders dump waste from their daily sales and articles in the markets into the drains, thereby, hindering free flow of water into its channels.
He urged residents to desist from clogging drainage channels with refuse, especially those already cleaned up, adding that the unpatriotic acts of some residents are putting the lives of those working on the drains in danger while also warning that anyone caught in the act will face the full wrath of the law.
He assured that the government was working tirelessly to restore drainage alignment in areas where sand filling activities are being carried out to enhance water transportation.