For residents of flood-prone areas in Lagos and Ogun states, they are used to seasonal flooding and only pray for it to be for a while. Indeed, they have devised means of overcoming the yearly challenge.
But prediction that there might be heavy rain later this month and September, as well as staggered release of water from Oyan Dam, which could negatively impact their communities, had been taken in good fate, even though they now sleep with one eye open. News of the impending calamity did not come to them as a surprise, as they had anticipated that their communities would get flooded, having been experiencing yearly flood since 2018.
The amount of water that could pour in, however, is making many of them worried than before. The fact that their communities were not flooded yet only gave them a relief and reduced their trauma. Indeed, they are ready to weather the flood of pains that will come with the heavy rain and release of dam water.
When The Guardian visited three of the communities expected to be highly affected – Ajegunle-Ikorodu, Owode-Maidan and Agiliti- residents were not as apprehensive as would be expected. Since 2018, they have devised means to weather the challenges that come with the flood. Surprisingly, they are not planning to relocate. (Guardian)