By Matthew |Don
Residents of Lagos State have been urged not to panic as a result of the incessant rainfall in the last three days as measures have been put in place to contain any eventuality.
Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello and Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Joe Igbokwe spoke on Thursday when they visited parts of Lagos to assess the state of the areas with the return of heavy rainfall in the state.
The duo reassured residents that measures are already in place to address the challenges posed by incessant rainfall as witnessed in the state in the last three days, as the various flood abatement gangs continue to clean and maintain the channels.
Speaking with the media in a chat after an unscheduled inspection of some of the major drainage systems, Bello and Igbokwe said residents should be rest assured that irrespective of the volume of the rainfall, it would flow through the drains to discharge into the various channels.
Igbokwe advised Lagosians to remain calm and not panic as the rainfall currently being experienced in Lagos State is a natural outcome of climate change and has been predicted by the Nigerian Meterological services.
He stated that Lagos being a coastal state will usually experience flash-flood, which is expected to disappear after a few hours without any negative and attendant loss of lives and properties, maintaining that the state is working round the clock to ensure that all the drains already cleared are not clogged up again.
Bello reminded the people of the Executive Order signed by the Governor on zero tolerance for indiscriminate dumping of refuse, warning against acts that could aggravate flooding such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drains as well as erecting structures on drainage lines and alignments.
He stated that while relevant government agencies are on red alert for any unforeseen incident, residents must be vigilant and promptly report cases of indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels and unauthorized places as well as other incidents of drainage blockage to the relevant government agencies.
Bello also advised Lagosians to be safety conscious during this period, urging them to take some safety measures such as avoid going out during the rains except when absolutely necessary and be conscious when driving and not over-speed.
He stressed that Lagosians residing along flood plains and low-lands should be at alert and be ready to move to safety whenever the need arises, stating that the Lagos State Government would continue to intensify efforts at containing flood in the State, while painstakingly maintaining all primary, and secondary channels from time to time.
The two Permanent Secretaries of the Office of Environmental Services, Mrs Ronke Odeneye and Office of Drainage Service and Water Resources, Engineer Lekan Shodeinde and directors in the ministry also visited areas known to be flood prone areas.