Tunji Bello, commissioner for the environment and water
resources, has urged residents of Lagos state to prepare for likely
consequences of 240 to 270 days rain with the 2020 rainfall predicted to begin
in March 19 and end November 22.
Bello made this known at a news conference on the 2020
seasonal rainfall predictions and prevention of flooding in Lagos, held at the
ministry’s conference room on Tuesday.
He said it is necessary to inform Lagos residents about the
2020 rainfall prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
“Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) is to allay fears of
residents and prepare them ahead for the likely consequences of the rain,” he
said.
Bello said rainfall prediction for Lagos in 2020 was a
near-normal one, saying Ikeja was expected to have about 1,526 millimeters,
while Badagry was 1,759 millimeters.
He said Lagos with 1,714 millimeters, Ikorodu with 1,690
millimeters and Epe with 1,730 millimeters.
The commissioner said before the rainy season, a couple of
rainfall was expected to occur which would be enormous and tend to give a false
start to the rainy season.
“Lagos Island is expected to have a rainfall onset date of
March 19, with an error margin of three days, while its cessation date is
expected to be November 26,” he said.
“It is also expected that Lagos Island will have about 252
days of rainfall and about 1,714 millimeters of rainfall over the year.
“It can be deduced that Lagos State shall experience a rainy
season of 240-270 days, while the maximum annual rainfall is predicted to be
1,750 millimeters. Year 2020 will likely experience days with extremely high
rainfall amount which may result in flooding.
“Another contributory factor to possible flooding in the
state is sea level rise. This poses the biggest risk to coastal areas and the
state’s drainage infrastructure, as anytime there is high tidal movement, it
may lock up the discharged points of drainage channels and until it recedes,
there will be no discharge.
“Such occurrences also caused back flows, resulting in
flooding but as soon as the Lagoon recedes, all generated storm water run-off
will immediately discharge and our roads will be free.”
He assured Lagos residents that the state would continue to
reap the gains of planning, as the flood control measures in the state had been
stepped up to contain any unforeseen weather condition.
The commissioner added that relevant measures had been put
in place in preparation for the 2020 rainy season.
Bello said the state was determined to maintain and sustain
the long-established synergy and partnership with Ogun-Osun River Basin
Development Authority.
He said the partnership had ensured control and monitoring
of steady and systematic release of water from Oyan Dam to prevent flooding of
the release of the downstream communities.
He said the emergency flood abatement gang under drainage
maintenance department of the ministry had been consistently de-silting and
working on secondary collectors and conduits, to enable them discharge
efficiently and act as retention basins.
Bello promised to beef up the ministry’s enlightenment
efforts to sensitise and advise communities in coastal and low-lying wetland
areas of the state, to move upward to avert needless loss of lives and property
when the need arises.
He said the ministry would also serve abatement notice to
owners of illegal structures, violators of buildings, regulations on drainage
alignments tenements and institutions discharging solid waste in water bodies.
Bello, however, urged media to support the state government
under the leadership of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of the state, to sensitise
Lagos residents who resided along flood plains of major rivers and drainage
channels to always be on the alert and ready to relocate to higher grounds when
the need arises.
He advised residents to report cases of drainage blockages,
dumping of waste into other unauthorised places.
Bello said telephone numbers of all the state drainage
engineers would be available in the 57 local government areas and local council
development areas of the state to attend to all needs before, during and after
the rainy season.
He, however, appealed to the people to support government
efforts by complementing the state government through regular clearing of
drains in their frontages to ensure free-flow of storm water.
He warned residents to desist from dumping refuse into
drainage and on the roads.
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