Flash Flood: Lagos Govt Calls For Calm As Incessant Rainfalls Desrupts Businesses

Lagos State Government has called for calm from residents, following the flash flood caused by the incessant rainfalls which worsened on Wednesday and desrupted businesses in Nigeria's commercial city,after several hours 

The State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab who made the call in a statement, explained that Lagos had experienced about nine hours of non-stop rainfall since the early hours of Wednesday 

The Commissioner however assured that the heavy rainfall being experienced on a daily basis since last week, resulting in the increasing water level of the Lagos lagoon and flash floods in areas like Iyana Oworo linking the Third Mainland and several other areas, will recede once the rains abate and the level of the lagoon goes down.

Wahab added that the state had also deployed officials of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang to major black spots including Iyana Oworo which has 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 also urged residents to desist from driving 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.

The Commissioner also advised the residents to avail themselves of daily weather reports issued by the State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources as it serves as a guide to daily itinerary.

He noted that Lagos is a coastal city with almost one-third of its landmass underwater, necessitating a genuine reason for every resident to be more responsive to the state of the environment.

Wahab reiterated that the state government on its part has embarked upon a yearlong maintenance and cleaning of all its secondary and primary collectors to be able to contain runoffs that may come from heavy rainfalls.

He added that residents on their part are expected to regularly clean and maintain the tertiary drains in front of their tenements and refrain from dumping refuse in the drains for the collective good of everyone.