Lagos State Government begs for calm as floods take over several areas in the state

Flash floods have been reported across several areas of the state.

The Lagos State Government has called for calm after the torrential rainfall experienced throughout the state on Wednesday caused flash floods in several areas.

This plea was made by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab in a statement released on Wednesday.

Wahab said, “Lagos has experienced about nine hours of non-stop rainfall since the early hours of Wednesday. This is coupled with the heavy rainfall which the state has been experiencing on a daily basis since the previous week resulting in the rise in level of the Lagos lagoon.”

The commissioner further said that flash floods in areas such as Iyana-Oworo linking the Third Mainland bridge would recede once the rain stops and the level of lagoon reduces.

He added that officials of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang have been deployed to the major areas affected by the flood to clear all blockages.

Residents of the state who are low lying areas have also been advised to relocate to higher grounds at this period to safeguard lives and properties.

Wahab also gave a stern warning to residents to desist from wadding through floods with their vehicles, as it only takes one feet of flowing water with high tide to sweep away a vehicle and its occupants.

He also reiterated the government began a one-year long maintenance and cleaning of all secondary and primary collectors in the state, so as to ensure they are able to contain runoff that may come from heavy rainfall.

“Residents on their parts are expected to regularly clean and maintain the tertiary drains in front of their tenements and refrain from dumping refuse in the drains for the collective good of everyone,” he said.