The Lagos State Government issued a new flood warning on Tuesday, warning people in various sections of the state to be cautious of heavy rains during the week of August 14 to 18.
The permanent secretary of the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Lekan Shodeinde, issued a statement on Tuesday warning Apapa, Badagry, Eti Osa, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Lagos Island, and Ojo residents to brace for extremely heavy rains that could cause flash flooding throughout the coming week and beyond.
“Relying on a flood alert advisory issued by the Flood Emergency Warning System Central Hub of the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Shodeinde urged all residents of listed areas to be vigilant and watchful about rainfalls during and after the periods,” the statement said.
Additionally, Shodeinde warned people living in flood plains and low-lying areas to prepare to shift higher ground until the rains stopped.
He warned residents and motorists “to refrain from wading through floods, especially during rainfalls, as there is a propensity to be washed away by the intensity of the water.”
The government, he continued, will start cleaning all primary and secondary drains, and he urged locals to clean the tertiary drains in front of their tenements as well.
He added that “according to the seasonal rainfall pattern released by the Nigerian Meteorological Services early in the year, Lagos will experience more than average rainfall which may result in flash flooding from June till September ending.”
