A yet to be ascertained number of families have been displaced by the recent ocean surge at Lekki, Lagos.
This came barely 10 weeks after a university don, Dr. Dupe. Olayinka, raised doubts as to the safety of the Eko Atlantic City, a mega project by the Lagos State government.
This came barely 10 weeks after a university don, Dr. Dupe. Olayinka, raised doubts as to the safety of the Eko Atlantic City, a mega project by the Lagos State government.
Some environmentalists yesterday warned against the ongoing ocean surge in the area.
The sea surged above its level and is currently threatening to take over the residential houses in the area.
But according to environmental experts, beaches such as Kuramo, Oniru and Bar beaches, which are currently experiencing the surge, were worried by the turbulence of the ocean purportedly influenced the project.
While debunking claims that the ocean surge snowballed into flooding of the Lekki area of the state, the Public Relations Spokesperson, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-west zone, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said only turbulence was experienced.
He said, “contrary to claims, there was no flooding in Lagos or Lekki and if they were, we would have been alerted. The only alert we received today was concerning an ocean surge.
“Some environmentalists had contacted NEMA to alert us to warn members of the public not to swim in the ocean on any of the beaches due to the heavy turbulence of the water.
“Although the surge does not mean that they cannot visit the beach, they are urged to stay away from the water because ocean surges carry whatever is in its path.”
He said the agency initially didn’t want to raise an alarm and cause panic, rather, to do a deeper analysis of the surge with a group of experts from different agencies.
On whether the surge was caused by the Atlantic project, Farinloye said that was part of what the experts would liaise and discuss during the stakeholders meeting and then work on ways to ameliorate the effect of the project on the ocean.
The surge is in line with the prediction by Olayinka, a hydrographer and consultant lecturer with University of Lagos, at the 2013 World Hydrography Day Celebration held at Oriental Hotel and organised by the Nigerian Hydrographers Society (NHS).
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayThe sea surged above its level and is currently threatening to take over the residential houses in the area.
But according to environmental experts, beaches such as Kuramo, Oniru and Bar beaches, which are currently experiencing the surge, were worried by the turbulence of the ocean purportedly influenced the project.
While debunking claims that the ocean surge snowballed into flooding of the Lekki area of the state, the Public Relations Spokesperson, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-west zone, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said only turbulence was experienced.
He said, “contrary to claims, there was no flooding in Lagos or Lekki and if they were, we would have been alerted. The only alert we received today was concerning an ocean surge.
“Some environmentalists had contacted NEMA to alert us to warn members of the public not to swim in the ocean on any of the beaches due to the heavy turbulence of the water.
“Although the surge does not mean that they cannot visit the beach, they are urged to stay away from the water because ocean surges carry whatever is in its path.”
He said the agency initially didn’t want to raise an alarm and cause panic, rather, to do a deeper analysis of the surge with a group of experts from different agencies.
On whether the surge was caused by the Atlantic project, Farinloye said that was part of what the experts would liaise and discuss during the stakeholders meeting and then work on ways to ameliorate the effect of the project on the ocean.
The surge is in line with the prediction by Olayinka, a hydrographer and consultant lecturer with University of Lagos, at the 2013 World Hydrography Day Celebration held at Oriental Hotel and organised by the Nigerian Hydrographers Society (NHS).
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If them wey dey find ocean view seen wetin them dey see for ocean view the go find there wey to main land. Make una dey listen to all these half baked engineers, surge experts and NEMA ppl wey no know themselves and wetin them dey do. ‘I want to live on the island’
ReplyDeleteI live in Lekki and there was no flooding this week. I live close to Alpha beach. First time hearing of this surge.
ReplyDeleteDr Olayinka is not the first to raise alarm on the apparent danger of the location of Eko Atlantic. Many professionals have spoken repeatedly about it for some time now. As a Facility Manager, I raised the alarm in 2010 and have spoken about it in every forum I have the opportunity to since then. No city or country in the world has created reclaimatory projects on turbulent waters. It just does not work. Dubai that they are trying to copy, did all the Jumeira projects on the still parts of their waters. None is located on any turbulent water because even if some hold-back period allows you to finish the project (doubtful), it won't take time before underwater crust ressetlements, surges and other water movement induced shifts would come visiting. Nigeria does even have a single system, process or capacity to deal with minor disasters, not to talk of ocean annoyance related ones which normally would take more than planned in its wake. I do not know how supposedly responsible organizations could invest in that charade without some thorough studies of this very clear situation.Chris
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