Lagos state residents have been urged to continually support government’s efforts in preventing flood in the state especially during the rainy season.
This can be done through regular clearing of drains in their frontage to ensure free-flow of storm water, stop the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised places, stop clogging of drains with silt or construction materials, stop erecting structures within and around drainage Right of Ways and setbacks.
This advice was given by the Permanent Secretary, Office (Drainage Services) in the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Olalekan Shodeinde, who spoke at a downscaling workshop on the Seasonal Climate Predictions and Socio-Economic implications for the state, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI), Alausa, Ikeja.
Shodeinde reiterated the government’s commitment to providing essential weather advisories to stakeholders, planners, decision makers and operators in the socio-economic sectors, to ensure a flood-free state.
The permanent secretary, represented by the Director of Drainage Enforcement and Compliance, Mahmood Adegbite, an engineer, said the advisory was important for the rainfall-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, transportation, water resources, health, environment, construction, among others.
He noted that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the ministry had released the annual Seasonal Climate Predictions (SCP) earlier in the year to sensitise the people on the socio-economic implication of the rainy season.
“The ministry, as usual, has embarked on an all-year-round drainage maintenance programme for effective and efficient flood control, as well as upgrading its early warning system with installation of automatic weather stations and river gauge stations.
“We also reignited our sensitisation campaign using established media platforms, and even door-to-door campaigns through stakeholder engagement strategy and visitation to affected communities.”
