Following the repeated predictions by meteorologists and experts of torrential rainfall that pose to overrun the whole of Lagos State next year, the state government has allayed fears of Lagosians, saying necessary steps have been taken to avert flood disaster in the state.
The warning signals and experts’ forecast had in recent times become worrisome, given the July 10 flood disaster that wreaked havoc in the state.
Thus, experts and concerned residents are of the opinion that Lagos may be sitting on a time bomb that may be extremely fatal unless severe measures are taken to avert predicted catastrophes.
The state has escalating population growth which is getting beyond the control of the state government, captured by statisticians to be rising, “From a moderate 346,137 inhabitants in 1952 to an estimated over 17.5 million presently, and a 2015 forecast of 25 million people.
Speaking on recent developments, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment Mr. Tunji Bello told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that the state was not in any way sitting on a time bomb. He pointed out that the state government’s? de-silting and drainage channelisation exercise across the state is still on-going.
Bello who explained that flooding was one of the natural disasters which no man could stop or prevent from occurring, passionately appealed to the residents to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse on drainage channels.
According to him, “Lagos State government can’t stop flooding. Nobody can stop it. Even the developed countries like America, Australia and others with all their technologies couldn’t stop flooding.”
He added that part of the state government’s strategy is to put some measures in place to reduce the negative impacts of any natural disaster on the residents, be it flooding or otherwise.