The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, has predicted a 2012 high prospect of intense rains in Lagos State to be accompanied by heavy flooding. Lagos, with over 18 million estimated population, has had its fair share of rainstorm disasters in recent past. Last year, precisely July 10, several innocent souls perished in the over 12 hours of intense rainfall that swept across the state. This can’t be forgotten in a hurry.
Governor Babatunde Fashola, while presenting a budget estimate of N485.292 billion for 2012 to the state House of Assembly for ratification, said his administration’s purpose and commitment towards delivering the greatest good to the greatest number of citizens of the state remained unchanged. The amount, according to the governor, was proposed in consideration of the prevailing economic climate. The budget exceeds by 7.66 per cent the 2011 budget estimate which stood at N445.180 billion.
For some years now, the state Ministry of the Environment had been getting an annual budget of millions but the budget was recently upped to billions to be able to address infrastructural shortfalls begging for attention.
Thus, worried by the challenge the predicted 2012 heavy rainfall pose to residents, Lagos state government embarked on a number of infrastructural upgrading projects aimed at reducing flooding as well as ensure protection of lives and property.
Already billions of naira has been disbursed by the government for such projects where over 200 canals and drainages are either on-going or completed across the metropolis. This was evident in the fact that the state had not recorded alarming loss of lives and property despite the heavy rainfall witnessed so far this year.
The state Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, explained that Lagos, being a coastal city, is prone to perennial flooding at any slightest rainfall, but the state government is not resting on its oars at mitigating the impact of the climate change, which has made the state witnessed unusual weather condition.
On what the government had done to forestall re-occurrence of July 10, 2011 rainfall, as well as prepare for the anticipated intense rainfall after the August/September break, Bello stated: “We have undertaken desilting of drains across the state and dredging of canals in all the nooks and crannies of the state. This was swiftly embarked on while construction of drain and road projects where needed was also awarded. Beyond this, periodic sensitisation of general public on the danger of disposing refuse into the drainage channel is also at every monthly sanitisation exercise while residents are always urged to shun cart pushers, who may dispose refuse in the already dredged canals.”
File photo: Rescue bid almost turned tragic at Shogunle as flood sweeps Lagos
However, during the monitoring exercise of August monthly environmental sanitation in Ajeromi Local Government Area of the state, Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Dr. Taofeek Folami, did reveal plans by the state government to embark on a more aggressive upgrading of upstream and downstream sections of canals next year with robust budgeting for the implementation in the 2013 budget proposal to further enhance infrastructural development across the state.
He disclosed that government had identified for upgrading in the 2013 budget the upstream sections of the Achakpo, Badagry and Okoya canals in Ajeromi Local Government to complement the already dredged downstream sections by the government.
While noting the low level of compliance on environmental issues in Ajeromi, Folami, urged the chairman of Ajeromi Local Government to step up its enlightenment drive to complement the effort of the state government in order to achieve active participation of the people in the area.
According to him: “This month’s monitoring exercise in Ajeromi Local Government has demonstrated to us that we must continue to do more to get everybody on board, to enhance participation of the people and encourage good use of drainage and sanitation infrastructure.
According to him: “This month’s monitoring exercise in Ajeromi Local Government has demonstrated to us that we must continue to do more to get everybody on board, to enhance participation of the people and encourage good use of drainage and sanitation infrastructure.
This is best achieved when the people appreciate the value of clean environment”
Folami also noted that residents, especially the people of Ajeromi area, should realize that well-being, waste collection, sewage disposal and drainage maintenance are interrelated; saying neglect of one of these would impact negatively on the effectiveness of the others.
Folami also noted that residents, especially the people of Ajeromi area, should realize that well-being, waste collection, sewage disposal and drainage maintenance are interrelated; saying neglect of one of these would impact negatively on the effectiveness of the others.
Poor drainage canals, waste collection systems in Ajegunle.Meanwhile, residents of Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA, have decried the poor state of drainage canals and waste collection systems in the area and the state in general, saying “it must be given utmost attention to avert loss of lives considering the predicted coming intense rainfall in the state.”
Most of the residents, who made the remarks during the August edition of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, stated that the poor state of the drainage canals in the council had consistently resulted in heavy flooding whenever it rained in the area.
Responding, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, said that government was committed to tackling the challenges posed by flooding in the state, saying the dredging of the canal has been captured in the 2013 budget.
Indiscriminate refuse dump: ‘Flood disaster imminent in Ajah, environs’
In a related development, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has raised the alarm over imminent flood disaster at Ajah communities and evirons following indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages as well as road medians which could lead to heavy flooding due to block drains and water channels.
LAWMA Managing Director, Mr Ola Oresanya, through the public relations department, decried the fact that residents of Ajah were not supportive of the state government efforts to ensure that every community in the state is clean as well as protect lives and properties of citizenry.
According to LAWMA: “Ajah residents, especially those of Thomas, Ilasan and Abraham Adesanya Estates are not paying for services rendered by Private Sector Participant, PSP, operators and waste management is not free anywhere in the world. Those who avoid patronizing or paying for services rendered by the PSP Operators and who would rather dump their refuse under the cover of darkness in unauthorized places are hereby warned to stop the unwholesome practices as the act poses serious danger to lives and property in the area.”
While stressing that the government would remain committed to effective waste management, the authority warned that anyone caught violating the environmental sanitation laws and dumping indiscriminately in unauthorized places, would face appropriate sanctions according to the state’s environmental laws.
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