4th September, 2023
The Lagos government has warned residents of Lekki-Ajah axis of the state to be prepared for massive floods expected this month.
Other areas expected to be flooded are Alagbole, Meiran, Maidan, Kara, Isheri-Olowora, Agiliti, Owode-Onirin, Owode-Elede, Agboyi I, Agboyi II, Ajegunle, Itowolo, Majidun, Ibeshe and Baiyeku.
Lekan Shodeinde, Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources of Lagos State Government issued the warning in a flood alert released on Sunday.
According to him, the fresh flood alert was based on the updated 2023 Water Releases Forecast for Flood Control by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority.
Shodeinde said the forecast indicated that there is much water to be expected in September 2023 from heavy downpours usually associated with the month and December every year along the Ogun River Basin.
The Permanent Secretary also noted that water levels of all tributaries including the Oyan Dam are rising and is one of the contributory factors to the possibility of the likely flooding at the downstream flow of the Ogun River.
The Lagos State Permanent Secretary also stressed that the same applies to all the channels and tributaries that discharges into the lagoon which may experience tidal lock and flow back because of the high water level that prevents discharges, leading to flash flooding.
He added that there have also been related predictions and warnings of flood from the Nigeria Metrological Services (NIMET), Nigeria Hydrological Services (NIHSA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)and other related agencies.
While reiterating the concern of the state government is the safety of the lives and properties of residents, the Permanent Secretary urged. residents and property owners in the listed areas to be ready to move upland when the water level rises.
Residents of other area across Lagos were also advised to be ready to move at the sign of flood.
Giving further information on the prediction, Shodeinde explained that comparatively the total amount of Rainfall recorded from January to August 2023 (1,128.6mm) is higher than that of January to August of the year 2021 (713.4mm) & 2022 (848.1mm).
The permanent secretary said comparatively, a total of 968.6mm was recorded as amount of rainfall for the 12 months of 2021, just as a total of 1,140 mm was the recorded amount of rainfall during the 12 months of 2022, while in the first 8 months of 2023, a quantum of 1,128.6mm has already been recorded.
This, he said, means when the remaining four months in the year is factored in, a very high intensity of rainfall would be recorded for the whole year.
“When some of the other figures released by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority is further scrutinized for volume of water spilled, it shows that for the 12 months of 2021, 1,102mcm was spilt, while for the 12 months of 2022, a total of 1,475.6 mcm was spilt, while in the first eight months of this year, a total of 1,393,1mcm has already been spilt by the River Basin Authority pointing in the direction that more water will be released when factored with the remaining four months in 2023,” Shodeinde said.