LASG Should Prepare For The 7-Day Rain

Once again, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, in Oshodi, Lagos State has alerted residents of an impending seven-day rain expected to fall before the August Break.

According to Mr. Abayomi Oyegoke of NIMET Central Forecast Unit, a total of 577mm of rain had been recorded in Lagos between January and June. The meteorologist added that the recent rains being witnessed in the city were a prelude to the seven-day rain expected to fall any moment from now.

Now that the alarm has been sounded and we have been availed of the weather forecast by experts, it is our hope that the relevant Lagos State government ministries and agencies would spring into action to minimise the impact of the seven-day rainfall on the movement and safety of Lagosians.

We had in one of our editorials applauded the various efforts being made by the state government to minimise the negative effects of this year’s rains on the economic and social activities of Lagosians and pleaded that everything necessary should be done to address flooding in the state.

We are happy to note that so far some of the measures put in place by the state government to prevent flooding in some parts of the state helped a lot when the rains started. A lot, however, still has to be done in some areas to check flooding. We observed that some of the floods observed in some parts of the state were flash floods and within one or two hours after the rain stopped, the water disappeared into the drainages.

But there were some places in Agege, Iyana Ipaja (Aboru), Ikorodu road, Ijeshatedo, Igando, Agbado Oke-Odo, Ijaiye Road (Mobil Junction) and others where floods disrupted economic and social activities. Movements in these places were disrupted as a result of the floods on the roads.

It is in the light of this that we are appealing to the state commissioners for the Environment and Transportation to take seriously the timely alert by NIMET about the seven-day rain by mobilising their men to prevent a lock-down during the period. The Ministry of the Environment should immediately deploy members of its Flood Abatement Gang to clean the drainages once again in preparation for the predicted seven-day rain. Drainage engineers appointed by the ministry in each of the local governments and local council development areas to ensure the cleanliness of the drainages should also be put on alert to prevent massive flooding during the period.

We also implore the Ministry of Transportation to mobilise LASTMA officials to work extra hours to ease traffic during this period. In this regard, we plead that the officials be provided with raincoats, umbrellas, boots and other equipment needed to enhance their work at this period. The police should also be co-opted into this programme to check the activities of reckless drivers and ensure orderliness on the roads.