25th August, 2010
If proactive measures are not taken, over 10 communities in Ikosi-Ketu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Nigeria, may be submerged by water as Ogun River has overflown its bank.
Already, the water level has risen and water has started entering into some of the communities, which made the Lagos State Government to raise an alarm over the impending danger and urged communities in the area to be vigilant.
The Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority has been releasing water from the Oyan Dam into the Ogun River, resulting in the rise in water level.
A visit to some of the communities in the Ogun River catchment area within Lagos State such as Ikosi-Ketu, Mile 12, Agilti, Thomas Laniyan Estate, Owode Elede, Owode Onirin, Agboyi, Odogun and Maidan showed that some properties have been taken over by water.
Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire noted that the recent experiences of Pakistan, China, Kano, Ogun and other states around the federation, where thousands of lives and property were lost to flood were enough reasons for any responsive government to be apprehensive of the damage a ravaging flood could wreck on lives and properties and take proactive measures to avert any untoward occurrence.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga