Lagos is presently under emergency. The coronavirus pandemic is hitting hard, disrupting the fabric of social interactions and engagements. Schools, churches, mosques are closing and public functions being shelved indefinitely. As more cases are confirmed, there will be additional measures to curtail the spread of the virus
While Lagos residents are adjusting to these new realities, the state has also moved into the rainy season with an anticipated 240 to 270 days of rain. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, who announced this last week, had urged residents of Lagos to prepare for likely consequences of 240-270 days rain with the 2020 rainfall predicted to begin in March 19 and end November 22.
“Year 2020 will likely experience days with extremely high rainfall amount which may result in flooding. Another contributory factor to possible flooding in the state is sea level rise. This poses the biggest risk to coastal areas and the state’s drainage infrastructure, as anytime there is high tidal movement, it may ‘lock up’ the discharged points of drainage channels and until it recedes, there will be no discharge.
“Such occurrences also caused back flows, resulting in flooding but as soon as the Lagoon recedes, all generated storm water run-off will immediately discharge and our roads will be free,” Bello said. (Text courtesy Guardian)