The Lagos State Government has urged residents and property owners at the Ogun River banks to prepare to relocate to higher ground.
The warning came on Thursday as the authorities of Ogun Osun River Basin Development Authority commenced staggered release of water from Oyan Dam.
The government also said it was collaborating with Ogun authorities to monitor the situation.
The PUNCH reports that following the flood scare occasioned by the release of water from the Oyan River Dam, some residents of communities at Isheri, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, have already begun to evacuate their homes.
On Saturday, the residents started to witness a gradual increase in the current of the Ogun River.
The water was also said to have overflowed, spreading across areas that are a few metres away from the river bank.
Addressing the media during a briefing at Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said it was crucial to understand that the dam’s annual operations were informed by real-time hydrological data, rainfall predictions from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and flood outlooks from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
He said the state government and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority acknowledged the concerns raised regarding the release of water from the dam and its impact on surrounding communities, particularly those along the Ogun River water channels extending into Lagos State.
He said from its released guidelines, OORBDA operates the dam in strict compliance with safety protocols to prevent structural damage and mitigate flood risks.
He said the government recognised the challenge faced by residents in affected communities which include Kara, Mile 12, Agiliti, Ikosi Ketu, Owode, Ajegunle, and Odo-Ogun.
“However, I want to emphasise that while the flooding experienced in these areas has often been attributed solely to water released from the Oyan Dam, this is not entirely the case.
“In reality, the downstream section of the Ogun River is influenced by a complex network of over 52 tributaries, all of which converge and contribute to rising water levels in the affected areas,” he said.
The commissioner said these tributaries, combined with rain-induced runoff, significantly exacerbated the flood situation, adding that this was a critical point to consider when addressing flood management strategies for the region.
He stated that in an effort to reduce the flood risks and ensure the free flow of water within the Ogun River system, the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority recently flagged off the dredging of the Ogun River downstream from the Ikorodu to Isheri axis (Ajelogo, Owode-Elede, Ajegunle, and under deck-on-pile of Itowolo Bridge) for the water released on Friday, September 13, 2024.
He said the government would continue to monitor the situation closely and collaborate with relevant agencies and affected communities to address humanitarian concerns, particularly for vulnerable groups like women, children, the elderly, and people living with disabilities.
He also appealed to Lagosians to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised places.
“I wish to appeal, once again, to our people to support our efforts by complementing the state government through the regular clearing of drains in their frontages to ensure free-flow of stormwater as well as to desist from dumping of refuse into drainage channels and roads,” he added.
SOURCE: PUNCH NEWS
