DISASTER : Floods As 13 Hours Rains Pound Lagos
Homes and roads were yesterday flooded in many parts of Lagos as a 13-hour rain pounded the city.The Southwest witnessed one of the heaviest rains in recent times. It destroyed properties worth millions of naira.From Osun to Ogun and Lagos states, the torrential rain, which started on Saturday night, lashed cities and towns non-stop.
Many vehicles were stalled on the roads as parts of Lagos, the nation’s commercial capital, were flooded.
From Ilasamaja to Ojuelegba, Mushin, Agege Motor Road, Iyana-Ipaja and Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, the roads were flooded.
Residents of highbrow areas of Victoria Island, Lekki and Ajah were not spared .
Many houses in Surulere were flooded. Residents were seen scooping water out of their homes.Many commuters were stranded due to heavy traffic caused by the flood.Agege Motor road from Ladipo to Ikeja along was worst-hit.The intensity of the flood left many motorists in fears.
Many of the property destroyed by the accompanying flood affected Lagos, more than other states but there was no report of death or of collapsed building, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), whose men were deployed across the state in response to emergency calls by citizens.
LASEMA General Manager Michael Akindele, said the Agency’s Emergency Response Teams were sent out to assess the affected areas to avert worst disaster.
He noted that the flood was accentuated by blockage of some of the major drainages in the affected areas advised Lagosians not to panic but ensure they clear the drainage in their neighbourhood to allow free flow of water.
In its situation report, LASEMA said: “The Agency received several distress calls regarding flooding activities which seriously affected some areas in the state as a result of the heavy downpour that started last night (Saturday) at about 8.40 pm.
“Several streets in Oworonshoki, Ifako, Ikorodu and Lekki axis were seriously affected by the heavy downpour.”
“Many properties and items worth several millions of naira were also damaged, but no life was loss or collapse of any building.
“The Affected street around the Oworo axis include: Fasas Ojomu,Ogunyomi, Aabiola, Akewusola, Adebanmwo, Unity, Oduduwa, Agberin, among others, While Hassan Street in Owutu (Ikorodu) and other areas were affected in the Ikorodu axis.
In a statement, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment Dr. Babatunde Adejare, urged the people to remain calm saying that necessary steps had been taken to avert flood disaster.
He said the government had in recent times carried out intensive tour of some flood prone communities in the state to clear blocked drainages and canals.
The commissioner wondered why any right thinking person would be dumping refuse on water courses and drainages created for free flow of storm water, saying the numerous campaigns against such practice was in the interest of the residents.
“Canal is a storm water channel for the conveyance of storm runoffs, they are God’s natural protection for holding water during massive flood and it is not a place for anybody to build a house or dump refuse. Those in the habit of doing such must stop henceforth,” Adejare said.
He warned that the government would no longer tolerate the building of illegal structures along channel right of ways in the state.
Adejare urged residents living on wetlands and flood prone areas to be cautious and careful, urging them to limit their movement if possible and to move to higher ground if need be.
