Due to ongoing flooding in Ajegunle and Kara neighborhoods, the Lagos State government has advised residents along the banks of the Ogun River to relocate immediately. Affected areas encompass Alagbole, Meiran, Maidan, Kara, Isheri-Olowora, Agiliti, Owode-Onirin, Owode-Elede, Agboyi I, Agboyi II, Ajegunle, Itowolo, Majidun, Ibeshe, Baiyeku, Maidan, Lekki-Ajah, and the Lagos Lagoon boundaries.
Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, emphasized that this alert follows a statement from the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority, highlighting substantial rainfall and increased water release. Comparing data from 2021, 2022, and the first ten months of 2023, the figures indicate a significant rise in rainfall and water release.
Wahab pointed out that the concern of the state government is the safety of residents and their property, necessitating this urgent relocation call. The commissioner stressed that October 2023 is expected to bring even more water, compounded by heavy rainfall typical of September and December in the Ogun River Basin. He urged residents to cooperate with the government’s measures, including early warning alerts, to mitigate the impact of flash floods, considering Lagos’ coastal location prone to such events.
