The Lagos State Government has appealed to all residents to remain calm over the continuous heavy rainfall experienced in the last 12 hours.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made the appeal in a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Kunle Adeshina, on Monday in Lagos state, Southwest, Nigeria.
Wahab assured residents that the state had put in place resilient infrastructure to combat flash flooding.
He informed residents that a new weather advisory from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency on Aug. 4 warned of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for the next three days.
He stated that it was not impossible for some parts of the state to experience flash flooding because of the inability of the major collectors to fully contain the runoff resulting from the very heavy rainfall.
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He reminded residents that the peculiar nature of Lagos as a coastal city, combined with the effects of climate change, makes it susceptible to the vagaries of flash flooding, urging residents not to panic.
He explained that Lagos, being a coastal state with heavy rainfall, would inevitably experience rising water levels in the lagoon.
“This will result in a tidal lock, which will prevent discharge from all collectors,” he said.
Wahab urged all those living in low-lying areas to remain alert, warning that with the intensity of the rainfall already experienced, many such areas would encounter flash floods.
“All areas that are abutting the rivers and lagoons in Lagos are also at risk of experiencing flash floods, which may come with high currents,” he said.
He called for extra vigilance, advising residents not to allow children to play under the rain or swim in the flash floods.
Wahab also advised motorists and pedestrians not to wade through floods, as vehicles could be submerged and people swept away by heavy currents.
He warned residents not to dispose of refuse into drains, noting that such acts have consequences, as refuse could block the drains and cause flash floods.
He said the state was intensifying the year-round cleaning and maintenance of all drainage channels and awarding contracts for the concrete lining of new ones to better contain runoff from rainfall.
He, however, cautioned that whenever unusually heavy rainfall occurs, like the one witnessed in the last 12 hours, concerted efforts are required to mitigate its effects.