Flood! Relocate Now, Lagos Tells Residents!

Head of Operation, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Mr. Olusegun Magnus-Davis warned occupants of such flood-prone areas to vacate and move to a safe place to avoid loss of life and properties because there are predictions that there would be heavy rainfall between now and 10 October.

The areas that may be affected includes Ajegunle/Owode-Elede, in Agboyi Ketu; Ijora/Badia, Apapa/Igamu, Aradagun in Badagry, Jakande area in Eti-Osa, and Alimosho Local Government Area.

Magnus-Davis explained that based on the topography of the state and the unique characteristic of some communities as low land, which sometimes leads to incessant flooding in the areas, there was the need for residents in such places to relocate temporarily.

He said that the prediction by the Federal Ministry of Environment of heavy rain is a natural disaster in waiting, recalling that other parts of the world had also witnessed the situation which he said was one of the consequences of climate change ravaging every part of the world.

“Lives have no spare part; our people are of the habit of staying in a particular place for so many years and insisting that they cannot afford to vacate the place temporarily or permanently for any reason, therefore putting their lives in serious danger.

“LASEMA and other agencies in the state have been put on red alert to combat all the issues associated with heavy rainfall.

“We advise residents of these areas to heed the early warning by the state government,” he stated.
According to him, many lives would have been saved during the ocean surge which occurred at Kuramo Beach, noting that similar warnings were issued to occupants of the shanties but they refused to heed the warning which eventually led to loss of lives.