• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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BusinessDay

Lagos tasks residents to brace up for 270 days of rainfall

rains
The Lagos government has alerted the residents to brace up as the state would witness a near  normal rainfall of between 240 to 270 days this year.
Commissioner for the environment, Tunji Bello who stated this on the Year 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Predictions and  prevention of flooding in the state, added the maximum annual rainfall is predicted to be 1,750mm.
According to Bello, the earliest predicted onset of the rainy season is March 17 with other areas following, adding that the rainy season is expected to cease earliest by Nov 22 in Surulere with other areas following after.
He stated that Ikeja was expected to have about 1526mm, while that of Badagry is 1750mm, Lagos Island with 1714mm, Ikorodu with 1690mm and Epe with 1730mm of rainfall.
The report which was obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological services (NIMET) indicated further that Lagos Island was expected to have a rainfall onset date of 19th March with an error margin of three days, while its cessation date is expected to be 26th of November.
This year’s prediction by NiMeT is based on the global consensus that El-Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is at the neutral phase which will continue till around August or September.
 It is also expected that Lagos Island will have about 252 days of rainfall with about 1714mm of rainfall through the year.
Bello disclosed that the predictions of the agency were valuable as vital weather and early warning tools for planners, decision makers and operators of the various sectors and businesses that might be impacted by the annual rainfall, if not well managed.
Re-assuring Lagosians on the issue of floods, Bello said in a coastal area like Lagos, it is natural that, “sometimes when it rains, we are likely to have flash-floods on our roads as normal occurrences all over the world.
“As long as the drains are clean, we should be assured that, in a matter of time, the flash flood will disappear”.
According to him, it is only when flood remains on the roads for days that we can report that the place is flooded.
 “It must be noted that, anytime the Lagoon level rises, it may “lock up” the discharge points drainage channels and until it recedes, there will be no discharge. Occurrences like these also cause backflows, resulting to flooding”, he emphasised.
 But as soon as the Lagoon recedes, all the generated storm water will immediately discharge and our roads will be free.
He added: “The Lagos State Government has established synergy and partnership with Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority and this has ensured control and monitoring of the steady and systematic release of water from Oyan Dam to prevent flooding of the downstream communities;
According to him, since last year the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang under Drainage Maintenance Department of the Ministry have been consistently de-silting and working on secondary collectors and conduits, to enable them discharge efficiently.
The Commissioner urged Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) and Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) to ensure advertising and communication agencies comply with regulations on safety and stability of billboards and telecommunication masts in readiness for the strong winds expected during the onset and cessation of every rainfall.
He assured that all relevant security and emergency agencies would be adequately informed to be ever ready for any negative effects of flooding.
 ”All emergency agencies, traffic management agencies and other emergency related outfits will be put on the alert to assist in reducing the havoc that may arise from the incidents of flooding in the state.”
Bello advised Lagosians who reside along flood plains, coastal and low-lying wetland areas near major rivers to always be on the alert and be ready to relocate, when the need arises.
He maintained that government shall, as usual, notify such residents at the appropriate time. He also urged motorists to observe prescribed speed limits during the rainy reason, to avoid loss of lives and property.
The commissioner appealed to Lagosians to desist from acts that can lead to flooding, indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised places.