By Ojugbele Omotunde
According to Ibrahim Farinloye, Lagos Territorial Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, the early morning flood on Tuesday in Command and Ipaja communities in Lagos impacted about 151 houses.
Preliminary assessments indicate that 23 houses in Oke Ishagun, 35 in Isale Aboru, 29 in Ikola Community, and 15 in Olubodun Majiyagbe-Ajayi were evacuated due to rainfall, while 12 houses on Makinde Street, 16 on Olokowo Street, and 21 on Adeola Street were also affected.
According to him, residents of affected areas were advised to use alternative routes as major roads and the command bridge are flooded due to the torrential downpour that started at 2 a.m. and continued until 5 a.m. in some locations and extended throughout the state until 10 a.m.
Farinloye Stated that tuesday’s heavy rainfall signals the start of 2024 rainfall, and emphasized the need for disaster risk reduction strategies and safety measures against flood disasters.
He states that he understands resident’s concerns about their safety and property this time around after a flood at Gate House, Gold Crescent, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation Bungalow Scheme, Oke Afa, Isolo, Lagos, last year claimed one life.
Farinloye assured that the situation was under control as NEMA is collaborating with state MDAs to mitigate flood effects, stating that Lagos State has pledged to ensure safety and no fatalities or injuries occurred.
Additionally, Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed, the Director-General of NEMA, exhorts Nigerians to desilt and clean up drainage systems.
He also calls on Community Development Associations to plan neighborhood safety initiatives and on local government bodies to penalize corporations that obstruct drainage systems.
He also states that he supports the Lagos State government’s decision to remove structures obstructing drainages after the 2023 rainy season, stating that residents dumping refuse in drainages should be prosecuted for environmental violations. He urges other state governments to follow suit and make the environment safer.
