The Lagos State Government on Wednesday called for calm over the flash flood caused by the torrential rainfall experienced throughout the state, which grounded Business, commercial activities following a an 9-hour downpour in many parts of Lagos and Ogun states.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, made the plea in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.
“Lagos has experienced about nine hours of non-stop rainfall since the early hours of Wednesday 3am till 11am.
which resulted to flooding brought down a two-storey building in the Mushin area of Lagos, grounded vehicular movement on the roads and overwhelmed thousands of residents while pupils could not attend schools in parts of the states.
Though the Lagos State government said the rain lasted for nine hours, in some parts of the state, it started at midnight and did not subside until noon, making it 12 hours.
“This is coupled with the heavy rainfall which the state has been experiencing daily since the previous week resulting in the rise in level of the Lagos lagoon,” Wahab said.
He said the flash floods which inundated areas such as Iyana-Oworo linking the Third Mainland and several other areas would recede once the rains abate and the level of the lagoon reduces other areas affected, include Berger, Ikeja, Ogba and in some parts, shodi, ojota
Our correspondents, who visited some affected flooded areas such as Iyana-Oworo, Agege, Ijegun-Isheri Osun, Aago palace way, Ojo. Omuwo-odofine , Gbagada and Lagos Island in Lagos State, observed that roads and houses were flooded as a result of long hours of downpour.
Other flooded places in Lagos include Eredo, Bojije, Epe, Sangotedo, Ibeju-Lekki, Awoyaya, Labora, and Abijon.
The commissioner added that the state had deployed officials of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang to major black spots including Iyana-Oworo which had been cleared of all blockages.
He urged all those in low-lying areas to as a matter of necessity relocate to higher grounds at this period to safeguard lives and properties.
He urged residents to desist from wading through floods with their vehicles as it takes only a foot of flowing water with high tide to sweep away a vehicle irrespective of the number of occupants.
