The Lagos State Government (LASG) issued a new flood warning on Sunday, warning citizens to brace themselves for floods in September.
The Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority released an updated 2023 Water Releases Forecast for Flood Control.
In a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Lekan Shodeinde, the affected catchment areas include:
- Alagbole
- Meiran
- Maidan
- Kara
- Isheri-Olowora
- Agiliti
- Owode-Onirin
- Owode-Elede
- Agboyi I
- Agboyi II
- Ajegunle
- Itowolo
- Majidun
- Ibeshe
- Baiyeku
- Lekki-Ajah
Shodeinde stated that the state government’s top priority is the safety of residents’ lives and property, urging residents and property owners in the listed areas to be prepared to move upland if the water level rises and shows signs of flooding, as is recommended for all residents across the state.
He explained that the total amount of rain recorded from January to August 2023 (1,128.6mm) is higher than that recorded from January to August 2021 (713.4mm) and 2022 (848.1mm).
According to the permanent secretary, a total of 968.6mm was recorded as the amount of rainfall for the 12 months of 2021, as well as a total of 1,140 mm for the 12 months of 2022, while in the first 8 months of 2023, a quantum of 1,128.6mm has already been recorded, implying that when the remaining four months in the year are factored in, a very high intensity of rainfall would be recorded for the entire year.
“When some of the other figures released by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority is further scrutinized for volume of water spilled, it shows that for the 12 months of 2021, 1,102mcm was spilled, while for the 12 months of 2022, a total of 1,475.6 mcm was spilled, while in the first eight months of this year, a total of 1,393,1mcm has already been spilled by the River Basin Authority pointing in the direction that more water will be released when factored with the remaining four months in 2023,” Shodeinde said.
According to the Permanent Secretary, rising water levels in all tributaries, including the Oyan Dam, are one of the contributing factors to the possibility of flooding in the Ogun River’s downstream flow.
He emphasized that the same holds true for all of the canals and rivers that discharge into the lagoon and may experience tidal lock and flow back due to high water levels that impede discharges, resulting in flash floods.
Shodeinde went on to say that the alert was necessary because much water is expected in September 2023, in addition to the heavy downpours that are usually associated with the months of September and December every year along the Ogun River Basin, and other related predictions and warnings from Nigeria Metrological Services (NIMET), Nigeria Hydrological Services (NIHSA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other related agencies.
