Lagos Warns Of Another Heavy Rain

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The Lagos State Government has alerted Lagosians of the impending heavy rainfall which is to begin next week.

The government urged Lagosians to brace up and desist from dumping refuse on drainage channels because the August break was over and that heavy rain would begin again as from next week which might result in flood if proper care was not taken.

In order to avert another tragedy like the Sunday, 10 July heavy rain that led to massive flooding in several parts of the Lagos metropolis, the government has begun massive clearing of drainage channels across the state.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello visited System II channel on Wednesday to inspect the level of work being done by the contractor, Zapex Construction Company.

The System II channel which measures 10km begins from Onipanu and runs through Bajulaiye to the University of Lagos and across five local government areas which include Lagos Mainland, Shomolu, Bariga, Kosofe and some parts of Mushin.

According to Bello, heavy rainfall should be expected as from next week according to the prediction by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET, saying that there was the need for Lagosians to brace up and embrace proper sanitary measures aimed at minimising flood.

“We should be prepared for more rains as from next week. We are taking necessary steps to minimise flood. People should realise that it is to their own interest not to dump refuse into drainage channels because the 10 July flood was caused by blocked drainage.

“What informed this tour is the aftermath of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s tour of affected areas by the 10 July flood. We have come to the end of the August break and we should expect to see rains falling as from next week,” he stated.

Bello, who was at the UNILAG part of System II Channel told newsmen that the government had concluded arrangement to line all its drainage channels to pave way for easy clearance whenever it wants to remove refuse from blocked channels.

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According to him, all channels would be lined like it was done at the UNILAG section, saying that it would take at least one year to line the entire System II Channel.

The commissioner explained that before lining a channel could be done, it must first of all be dammed, but noted that damming a drainage channel had its necessary evil, which could lead to minor flooding in some areas.

“When you line a channel, it becomes very easy to clean up and maintain such channel,” he said.

Bello added that the state government had started demolishing structures on drainage channels, saying that many parts of the metropolis where structures were erected on drainage path would be visited with the demolition train.

The commissioner lamented that the last heavy rain led to loss of lives and property and that government wanted to prevent this at all costs while appealing to Lagosians not to empty their refuse into drainage channels again.

Chairman, Shomolu Local Government, Hon. Gbolahan Bagostowe said the council had notified the government of the problems faced by residents of the area whenever it rained, saying that the 10 July rain wreaked havoc on the area.

“We have been sensitising the people not to dump refuse into drainage channels.  When it rained last time, the bridge on the canal here was blocked with refuse and water could not pass through. So, it entered people’s houses,” he said.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga

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