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LASG allays fear of residents over flooding in Idumagbo
By Ibrahim Adeleke
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday allayed fears of the residents of Idumagbo and environs on the incessant flood occasioned by the low lying nature of the area and the rising sea level, assuring that necessary measures including pumping of water from the depressed areas are ongoing and will effectively manage the flooding.
Addressing protesters who converged on Illubirin in Lagos Island, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello explained that the whole affected areas were depressed as such water cannot flow into the drains naturally.
He stated that a permanent solution which will involve provision of 3 bigger pumps of 3000m cube per minutes M3 is already underway as well as a reconstruction of the drainage outlet.
“Each one of those pumps will need a generator with a capacity of 400KVA and will be provided to power each of the pumps,” he added.
Responding to the request for a demolition of the natural embankment used to prevent the ingress of water from the lagoon, the Commissioner extended an invitation to representatives of the protesters to his office at Alausa for further explanations on the need for the embankment.
He added that the embankment was necessary to prevent water from coming in from the lagoon.
Bello stated that that Climate change was part of what is being experienced and it is happening all over the world, adding that some cities have not recovered from its effects.
According to him, Lagos is part of the sinking cities, but the government will never fold their arms and let the untowards happen, adding that Lagos Island is a low lying area which explains the convergence of water.
He added that as a follow up to the meeting with representatives of the protesters on Wednesday, officials of the ministry will also visit Ilubirin on Saturday with residents to have a first hand experience of the level of the water.
Earlier, the spokesperson for the protesters, Mr. Mukadass Maja, said their demand for a lasting solution is to pull down the embarkment that prevent ingress of water from the lagoon, to allow free flow of water.
He said many of their streets, shops, mosques, churches, police Stations and schools in the areas are seriously flooded and is affecting the economy of the areas.
Some of the affected areas include Ojo Giwa, Jankara, Idu Garan, Okoya amongst othes and some affected schools include King Ado High School and St. Patrick Primary School.
