The Lagos State Government has said the construction of a mega pumping station in Ilubirin, which aims to permanently resolve the problem of flooding in Lagos Island, will be completed by the end of July.
Nurudeen Shodeinde, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, speaking to journalists on Wednesday, after conducting an assessment tour of the pumping station in Ilubirin Estate, stated that once the station is completed, it will effectively tackle the recurring problem of flooding in Adeniji, Oroyinyin, Idumagbo, Ojo Giwa, Jankara, and surrounding areas.
Shodeinde stated that the backflow of water from the Lagoon to the affected areas, which has resulted in stagnant water, will be resolved by the new pumping station once construction is concluded.
The Permanent Secretary emphasized that the pumping station will be equipped with three powerful turbine pumps capable of pumping three million litres of stormwater per hour to the Lagoon. These large pumps are designed to operate automatically and self-sufficiently, primarily powered by public electricity with a 350KVA generator as backup to pump any accumulated water.
Furthermore, he explained that the primary cause of flooding is the low-lying nature of the affected areas, hindering natural water drainage to the Lagoon. To address this issue, the State has constructed a new rectangular drainage outlet at the Ilubirin end, elevated above sea level to improve water flow.
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He explained that water is moved either by gravity or by pumping, bearing in mind that Lagos Island is the lowest-lying part of the State and has made it difficult for water to flow into the lagoon, hence a pump which is 20 by 20 metres in length and breadth and 6 – 7 metres deep into the ground will be created where the three turbine pumping machines will be installed thereby creating artificial energy to pump the stormwater out into the Lagoon.
He explained further that the Turbine pumps which are individually four metres high will be installed deep into the water to maintain the temperature of the coils of the pump with a discharge point that is created higher than the level of the Lagoon, adding that after the completion of the project, there will be no record of water flowing back from the Lagoon into the communities.
Shodeinde said the mega pumping station project would replace the temporary wall embarkment constructed at Ilubirin that was aimed at preventing the backflow of the Lagoon.
He stressed that what was being experienced in Adeniji and environ can also be regarded as one of the effects of climate change, saying, though, Lagos has been projected as one of the sinking cities of the world, however, no government will fold its hands and avert such projections.
He thereafter advised residents of Lagos Island to desist from dumping refuse into the drains and canals, urging them to take ownership of their environment by moving against individuals who are in the habit as this has become a major contributor to flooding in the state.
