Following vulnerability which residents in low-lying or flood prone areas of Lagos face during rainy seasons, the Lagos State Government at the weekend advised them to start thinking of alternative accommodation.

According to the government, the relocation order has become imperative due to this year’s seasonal rainfall prediction which implies that lives and property of the residents are in danger.

The State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello who gave the advice at the presentation of the 2013 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, SRP and its socio-economic implication for Lagosstate, said residents in low-lying areas where water from upstream passes through whenever it rains are highly vulnerable.

Rainfall, according to the predictions, will commence in Lagos between the first and second week of March, with a margin of error of three days as probable onset dates. Bello pointed out that this prediction has been further confirmed with the rains which came in torrents on penultimate Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The 2013 rainfall is expected to end on December 17th , with a margin of error of four days which is between 13th and 21st December.

“From the year 2013 seasonal rainfall predictions, Lagos State shall experience a rainy season of about 249-275 days with intermittent stoppage in February and August. The magnitude of Lagos seasonal rainfall prediction for this year is that Lagos will experience heavy rainfall of high intensity, with thunderstorm just like last year. Lagos is expected to record 1722mm with marginal error of between 21 and 179mm. Heavy thunderstorm has been predicted to occur during the rainy period of June, July, August, September and October, “ he said.

Continuing, Bello said:“Lagos like other coastal cities of the world is prone to flooding, and several global occurrences can attest to this. However, we commenced our de-flooding programme at the end of last year’s rainy season. We intend to sustain and strengthen last year’s strategy which is predicated on Pre-Rain, Mid-Rain and Post-Rain programmes of the government which include anticipation, monitoring and clearing as well as cleaning of our drainage channels and canals across the state.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/relocate-now-lagos-advises-residents-of-low-lying-areas/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter


God forbid.Na by force to stay for Lagos sef?

They should put adverts in local languages,pidgin on the various radio stations and name specific areas so as to reach the concerned locals.

..when some of us criticised the Eko atlantic city project as impacting negatively against those commoners living in low land areas,we were called all sort of names!yes flooding is a natural disaster which can occur mostly in coastal regions but can also be precipitated by human activities!The environmental impact studies of Eko atlantic project shows that the reclamation of land for the project and the building of city walls around it,will definately add undue pressure on the lower areas!...now that the chicken has come home to roast,where are the '40 Eko oni baje laptop group'!am only pained for the ignorant poor masses who may be victims of this Fashola facilitated calamities!NEMA shld quickly assist in precautionary ways to alleviate the suffering which may be encountered!and Fashola as usual,will only help the suffering masses on the pages of newspapers!

Ha ha ha . . . Relocate to where exactly, the LSG should provide alternative as well cos it is not as easy as telling the residents of flood prone areas to relocate.

ifyalways: They should put adverts in local languages,pidgin on the various radio stations and name specific areas so as to reach the concerned locals.

Unfortunately, its not going to matter. Where are they going to go? Like most people, they will sit, wait and hope the flood never comes.

Sibrah: Ha ha ha . . . Relocate to where exactly, the LSG should provide alternative as well cos it is not as easy as telling the residents of flood prone areas to relocate.

Where is the money going to come from?

Austine.E:
..when some of us criticised the Eko atlantic city project as imparting negatively against those commoners leaving in low land areas,we were called all sort of names!yes flooding is a natural disaster which can occur mostly in coastal regions but can also be precipitated by human activities!The environmental impart studies of Eko atlantic project shows that the reclamation of land for the project and the building of city walls around it,will definately add undue pressure on the lower areas!...now that the chicken has come home to roast,where are the '40 Eko oni baje laptop group'!am only pained for the ignorant poor masses who may be victims of this Fashola facilitated calamities!NEMA shld quickly assist in precautionary ways to alleviate the suffering which may be encountered!and Fashola as usual,will only help the suffering masses on the pages of newspapers!

I am not an expert on these issues, but I fail to see how Eko-Atlantic will put more pressure, on low-lying areas. Flooding is said to occur when the rate of precipitation from the atmosphere is greater that the rate of water run-off on the ground. This essentially means the rate of water draining is slower than its production. Hence, low-lying areas, which are natural drainage paths, suffer most from this problem. Most importantly, the natural water cycle is independent of land reclamation (e.g. Eko Atlantic) for coastal areas, but dependent on prevalent global climatic cycle and its side-effect.
Could you give us a link to the environmental impact assessment you spoke about up there? It would be nice to educate us all.

Tony Spike:

I am not an expert on these issues, but I fail to see how Eko-Atlantic will put more pressure, on low-lying areas. Flooding is said to occur when the rate of precipitation from the atmosphere is greater that the rate of water run-off on the ground. This essentially means the rate of water draining is slower than its production. Hence, low-lying areas, which are natural drainage paths, suffer most from this problem. Most importantly, the natural water cycle is independent of land reclamation (e.g. Eko Atlantic) for coastal, but dependent on prevalent global climatic cycle and its side-effect.
Could you give us a link to the environmental impact assessment you spoke about up there? It would be nice to educate us all.

you are right in your explanation of why flood occurs but you failed to tell us that when the holding power of body of water(in this case the atlantic ocean)is overwhelmed either by excessive rainfall,there is normally an outflow of water to the dryland(basically low lying areas) and here is how Eko atlantic city project impacts on this negatively, the reclamation of land has reduced the holding capacity of water by the atlantic ocean along the lagos plain,so the ocean fills quickly beyond capacity and the first victim of this adverse effect will be the low lying areas...dont forget that the city walls of Eko atlantic city serves as a barrier and protection against surge and then the large sea waves will only move down-wards to the low lying area.

Austine.E:

you are right in your explanation of why flood occurs but you failed to tell us that when the holding power of body of water(in this case the atlantic ocean)is overwhelmed either by excessive rainfall,there is normally an outflow of water to the dryland(basically low lying areas) and here is how Eko atlantic city project impacts on this negatively, the reclamation of land has reduced the holding capacity of water by the atlantic ocean along the lagos plain,so the ocean fills quickly beyond capacity and the first victim of this adverse effect will be the low lying areas...dont forget that the city walls of Eko atlantic city serves as a barrier and protection against surge and then the large sea waves will only move down-wards to the low lying area.

Is the topography of the sea crust homogeneous along the Lagos coast? Because as I see it, Eko Atlantic project covers less than 5% of the coastline of Lagos. Infact, I think that project was mainly designed to extends the land mass of Victoria Island only. How could the tiny mass of land reclamation on an isolated Victoria Island, affect the low-lying areas on the mainland for example? It would be interesting to get more explanation on the dynamics of the sea current involved, sir.

Why didn't an important thread like this make it to the front page? When this flood eventually occurs, some people will start accusing the government of negligence. Whereas the information about the impending flood is now being disseminated at least 4 months before it happens. May God help us...