The Lagos State Government says it is not expecting “massive” flooding the same way it is ravaging some parts of the country like Bayelsa State.
This is according to the Permanent Secretary, Drainage Services, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State, Olalekan Shodeinde.
While noting that Lagos State has put in measures to combat flooding, he said the commercial city won’t be massively impacted by such development if it happens.
“So, we are not expecting a massive Bayelsa-like or Kogi-like situation,” he said on Friday while fielding questions on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
According to him, if such happens in the state, about 200, 000 persons would be affected but he called on Lagosians to be “prepared”.
“Probably maybe 100,000 or 200, 000 people,” he added, noting that areas prone to such incidents are “low-line areas in River Ogun”.
He explained that the Lagos State Government and other related agencies have issued warnings to residents about the possibility of flooding.
“The essence of the early warning is for you not to be caught napping; for you not to be caught trapped in that situation,” Shodeinde noted, maintaining that “that is why we are making the noise; that is why are talking about this”.
Over 600 Dead
His comment came amid massive flooding in several states in Nigeria which has displaced many and killed others.
Last Sunday, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management placed the number of those who perished in the flood at 600.
The disaster had also forced more than 1.3 million from their homes, said a statement by Nigeria’s ministry of humanitarian affairs, released on Twitter.
“Unfortunately, over 603 lives have been lost as of today October 16, 2022,” said Humanitarian Affairs Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq.
The previous toll from last week stood at 500, but the numbers had risen in part because some state governments had not prepared for the floods, said the minister.
The flooding also completely destroyed more than 82,000 houses and nearly 110,000 hectares (272,000 acres) of farmland, said Umar Farouq.
While the rainy season usually begins around June, the rainfall had been particularly heavy since August, said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
In 2012, 363 people died and more than 2.1 million were displaced by flooding.
Sub-Saharan Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change and many of its economies are already struggling from the ripple effects of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Rice producers have warned that the devastating floods could impact prices in the country of some 200 million people where rice imports are banned to stimulate local production.
The World Food Programme and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization said last month that Nigeria was among six countries facing a high risk of catastrophic levels of hunger.
Credit: CHANNELS TV.
