OYOGist.com has learned that residents of four local government areas of Lagos State Government have been advised to relocate from a highly probable flood risk expected between now and September, this year.
The Lagos state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, gave the advice in Lagos, on Thursday, stating should the residents fail to relocate, they should of wary of the impending flood, in their areas of domicile.
Tunji Bello listed Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Ibeju-Lekki and Ikorodu as local government areas of the state that would witness more high intensity rainfall between now and September this year.
The Commissioner, therefore, advised residents, especially those with structures in low lying areas, to relocate during this period to avoid any untoward incident such as loss of lives and property that could affect them.
He stated that the forecast released by the Hydrological Services Agency, on May 28, this year, from the Annual Flood Outlook, reveals that said the four councils would be most hit by the impending flood.
The commissioner also identified 14 other local government areas as likely to face probable flood risks this year but might not be severe as the four forewarned.
Tunji Bello listed that the 14 local government areas that may be affected by the flood, include Lagos Island, Alimosho, Amuwo Odofin, Ikeja, Ojo Kosofe, Eti-Osa, Apapa, Oshodi/Isolo, Agege, Ifako Ijaiye, Badagry, Surulere and Ajeromi-Ifelodun.
As a way of mitigating the threat, Tunji Bello disclosed that the ministry would clear and clean the drains of pet bottles and styron foams as exemplified by the efforts of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang all over the black spots in Lagos state. to the Commissioner, it was highly regrettable that several heaps of pet plastic bottles and solid waste were being excavated, daily, from the drainage channels in areas like Mushin, Idi Oro, Idi Araba, LUTH and Mile 2 areas of the state.
He remarked that investigation, by his Ministry had revealed that some traders, especially in the Mushin area of the state, dump waste from their daily sales and articles straight into the drains, thus inhibiting the free-flow of water into the channels of drainages.
Tunji Bello enjoined residents, in Lagos state, to desist from clogging drainage channels with refuse, especially those that were cleaned up recently, adding that the unpatriotic act of some residents had put the lives of those working on the drains in precarious danger. He warned that anyone caught dumping refuse in any drainage channel would face the full wrath of the law.
The Commissioner enjoined residents of Bariga who had been adversely affected by sand filling being carried out in the area to bear with the government of Lagos state, assuring that the ministry was working assiduously to ensure that the alignment in the area was properly restored without much delay.
