The flood as a result of heavy downpour on Tuesday morning has affected at least 151 houses in Lagos State.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Lagos Territorial Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, made this know in a statement, adding that the areas affected include Command and Ipaja communities.
Farinloye explained that preliminary assessment in some communities affected by the rainfall showed that residents were evacuated from 23 houses at Oke Ishagun.
He noted that 35 houses were affected at Isale Aboru, 29 houses at Ikola Community and 15 houses at Olubodun Majiyagbe-Ajayi.
The NEMA Technical Coordinator said 12 houses were also affected at Makinde Street, 16 houses at Olokowo Street, 21 houses at Adeola Street, among others.
Farinloye said NEMA was working with appropriate state MDAs to mitigate the effect of the flood on residents.
He stated further that Lagos State had promised to make the state safer for residents.
Farinloye disposed that Tuesday’s torrential rainfall and downpour earlier on Sunday were strong signals of what to expect with the outset of 2024 rainfall.
He said it was important to imbibe disaster risk reduction strategies.
“We must begin to adhere to safety measures against flood disasters.
“Thanks be to God that no live was lost and no one injured,” Farinloye said.
Meanwhile, Farinloye declared that the Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed, urged Nigerians to start clearing their drainages and desilt them.
Ahmed enjoined Community Development Associations to should ensure they coordinate the activities of neighbourhoods toward safer environments.
He urged Local Government authorities to sanction corporate organisations blocking drainages around their offices.
He asserted that residents dumping refuse in drainages should be apprehended and prosecuted for blockage of drainages, dumping of refuse in drainages as envisaged in environmental laws to save the society.
The Director-General vowed to support the Lagos State Government for its bold decision after the 2023 rainy season when it pulled down structures obstructing drainages across the state.
He called on other state governments to follow the foot steps of Lagos State by making concerted efforts toward making the environment safer.
