Seadogs bemoan Lagos flooding
By Shile GIWA
The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has raised the alarm over the recent flood witnessed in some parts of Lagos.
A statement by the Capon, Ikeja Chapter of NAS, Mr. Iheanyi Konkwo, said contrary to predictions by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the ‘Little Dry Season (LDS)’, a seasonal weather phenomenon commonly known as August Break, extended beyond the projected 25-day period. While it lasted, the ever-busy Lagos metropolis was ‘dry’ and accommodated its relatively high-frequency hustle and bustle.
NAS IKeja Chapter, equally took a swipe at the Lagos State Government over its failed assurance that it has put in place measures to minimize the incidence of flash flooding in the State.
‘‘The State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, at a press conference, assured residents that the state has put in place preventive measures to minimise the effects of incidence of flash flooding in the state.
But the rain is expectedly back to complete its full seasonal cycle, marking a resumption of one of the city’s perennial nightmares: Flooding.
Over the years, successive administrations of the state have continued to grapple with finding a lasting solution to this largely avoidable menace. Unfortunately, this recurring and predictable disaster has repeatedly resulted to devastating social, security and economic consequences’’
NAS Ikeja Chapter noted that, the acting Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, had last month alerted that four local government areas in Lagos, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu and Mushin, were prone to flooding.
‘‘It was, therefore, with shock and dismay that the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) witnessed a resurgence of flooding across the state, following the heavy rains on Wednesday, 9th of September, 2020. Reports indicate that various roads, business districts and homes were seriously impacted by flooding across the state, leading to disruption of economic and social activities.
While we commend the efforts of the state government towards finding a lasting solution to this menace resulting from human activities including the challenge of solid waste management, physical development issues, damage to drainage facilities, deforestation and urbanisation, through the instrumentality of law, policy formulation and enlightenment campaigns, it is quite clear that a lot more needs to be done.
Aside the enlightenment campaigns, the authorities also need to give serious consideration to the state’s peculiar geographic features, including its flat topography, low elevation relative to Mean Sea Level and the impacts of climate change, as well as its hydrology, soil characteristics and the periodic opening of the Oyan Dam, one of the tributaries of the Ogun River originally built for flood control, fishing, hydro power and irrigation’’
The association recalled that, in 2017, the then Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Mr. Adeyemi Abidemi, at a two-day stakeholders’ summit, organised by the ministry, noted that Lagos State has only one estuary mouth, located at the Commodore Channel at Onikan, near the Bar Beach.
According to Abidemi, this estuary discharges the entire content of the Lagos Lagoon, Badagry Creek, Lekki Creek and Ologe Lagoon into the Atlantic Ocean. Consequently, each seasonal rise in sea level significantly contribute to flooding in many parts of the state, occasioned by the flow back from the lagoon into drainage outlets and causing river flooding.
NAS therefore, called on the state government to urgently develop a Master Drainage Plan towards addressing the perennial challenge of flooding in the state, saying such Master Plan must be based on broad engineering analysis of the existing drainage system, risk zone identification, vulnerability mapping, land use and standard design.
‘’While we are mindful of the fact that, such audacious plan would at some point require the collaboration of the central government, the state authorities must take the first step and provide guidance in the execution.
In the meantime, there is a pressing need to decongest all secondary drainage system that are either silted or overgrown with weeds, to allow for a for free flow into the primary drainage system and into the lagoon.
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) should also be rejuvenated, to remain alive to its responsibilities, while the use of cart pushers for refuse collection and disposal should also be discouraged because
Lagos needs to regain its pride of place as Africa’s largest city.
