LAGOS DIRECTS RESIDENTS IN FLOOD-PRONE AREAS TO EVACUATE
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By:Aminat Tajudeen
The Lagos State Government has advised residents in low-lying and flood-prone communities to relocate to higher ground following a fresh seven-day flood warning issued by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA).
The government said the precautionary measure was aimed at preventing loss of lives and property.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by the ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Kunle Adeshina.
According to the government, the flood alert, issued over the weekend, covers Lagos and 14 other states. In Lagos, areas identified as vulnerable include Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Oke-Ira Nla in Ajah, Kirikiri, Ilaje Waterfront Jetty and Jetty Terminal B.
Wahab said the state government was taking the NiHSA advisory seriously and had stepped up monitoring across the identified areas, as well as other riverine, low-lying and flood-prone communities.
He urged residents not to wait until floodwaters rise before taking precautionary measures, stressing that early preparation and temporary relocation could save lives and protect property.
“We are urging Lagosians, particularly those living in flood-prone and low-lying areas, not to take this warning lightly. When the signs point to danger, the safest decision is to move early. No property is worth risking a life,” Wahab said.
The commissioner advised residents in vulnerable communities to move to higher ground and remain there until the peak of the renewed rainy season passes.
He also urged communities along the Ogun River and other major waterways to exercise caution, noting that heavy rainfall and rising water levels in interconnected river systems could affect downstream communities in Lagos.
Wahab specifically listed Isheri North, Kara, Itowolo, Ajegunle, Majidun, Ogolonto, parts of Agboyi and other settlements downstream of Isheri Olofin as areas that should remain on high alert between September 19 and 25.
Residents living close to rivers, lagoons, wetlands, drainage channels and other water bodies were also advised to monitor official flood forecasts and prepare for temporary relocation when necessary.
According to the commissioner, the NiHSA advisory warned that rising river levels could cause flooding in vulnerable communities and affect critical facilities, including schools, healthcare centres, markets, farms and places of worship.
Wahab called on local governments, emergency management agencies, community leaders and residents in affected areas to activate early-warning and response measures.
He also urged them to move people, livestock and valuable belongings to safer locations where necessary.
The commissioner said the state government would continue monitoring river levels, rainfall patterns and other hydrological developments in collaboration with relevant federal agencies.
He added that routine cleaning, maintenance and monitoring of drainage infrastructure across the state would also continue.
Wahab urged residents to support the government’s flood prevention efforts by avoiding the dumping of refuse in drains, canals and waterways, warning that blocked drainage channels could worsen flooding and slow the receding of floodwaters.
He further cautioned residents against walking or driving through flooded roads, bridges and fast-moving water, advising those in vulnerable communities to make arrangements for temporary relocation whenever official warnings indicate an imminent threat.
The commissioner assured residents that the state government would continue to implement measures to reduce flood risks and provide updates as the situation develops.
The latest flood advisory also warned that more than 8,000 communities and 4,500 schools across 15 states could be affected by flooding between September 19 and 25.
The states identified as most likely to experience flooding include Imo, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Enugu, Bayelsa, Kogi, Abia, Taraba, Rivers and Lagos.
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