“Now is the time for residents of all such areas in the state to hearken to the voice of reason by relocating to higher grounds"
The Lagos State Government has warned owners of all structures on drainage alignments and setbacks to relocate to the “higher grounds” areas.
The Governor Babajide Sanwo=Olu-led government blamed the floods on “the heavy torrential rainfall which started in the early hours of Monday and continued on Tuesday afternoon” saying they were only “flash floods in many areas.”
The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, explained these in a statement on Tuesday, adding that many of such buildings had already been marked in Mende, Maryland and Aboru in the Alimosho area for contraventions of drainage alignments and may soon be demolished.
He said, “The buildings in Mende were marked as the area is a low-lying flood plain and a drainage route for all the water coming from Agidingbi, Oregun, Opebi, Allen, GRA, Maryland up to Ogudu Foreshore.
“Now is the time for residents of all such areas in the state to hearken to the voice of reason by relocating to higher grounds to safeguard lives and properties because these drainages can contain water runoff when the rain stops just as it is happening already.”
Bello also stated that the recent flash floods were caused by prolonged rainfall.
“The heavy torrential rainfall which started in the early hours of Monday and continued on Tuesday afternoon has caused flash floods in many areas and I reiterate my assurance that a minimum of four hours after the rainfall ceases, the water level in the lagoon will go down, allowing water from major collectors to flow into it and enabling all flood water that may have inundated our roads and streets to leave the streets,” he added.