The Lagos State Government has issued a warning about an increased risk of flash flooding following heavy rainfall on Thursday, described as the most intense in months.
In a statement released on Sunday and signed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the government explained that the release of water from the Oyan Dam has exacerbated the situation, causing major drainage channels to struggle to discharge into the rivers.
Wahab noted that the heavy rainfall between Wednesday and Thursday caused water levels in major rivers to rise, making it challenging for drainage systems to function until the levels decrease.
“The latest flash flood advisory is necessary because data gathered from weather monitoring stations indicate that Thursday’s average and maximum rainfall values were the highest recorded so far this year,” he stated.
He further emphasized, “In the past few weeks, we have observed a significant increase in water levels at our four gauge stations within the state.
We are aware that the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority is releasing water from two gates of the Oyan Dam, as previously announced.”
Wahab provided specific figures to illustrate the severity of the situation: “Recently, at Kara, the water level reached 2.2 meters, which is nearing the flood threshold.
At Isheri-North GRA, the recorded level was 20.015 meters, surpassing the flood threshold. This indicates that catchment areas along these locations are already facing river flooding.”
He also mentioned that at Majidun, the peak water level this year was recorded at 1.466 meters on October 14, while the minimum was 0.538 meters.
At Falomo, ongoing rainfall combined with water releases from the Oyan Dam suggests that both upstream and downstream areas of Lagos State will likely experience flooding.
Wahab highlighted that data for this year shows that October has recorded significantly higher water levels compared to previous months, with both minute and hourly readings consistently indicating elevated levels.
He urged residents living in low-lying areas and along the Ogun River banks to prioritize their safety by relocating to higher ground to avoid potential loss of life and property, as more rainfall is anticipated this month.
This warning follows a previous incident in July, when a 10-hour downpour severely disrupted business and commercial activities across Lagos and Ogun states.
That flooding resulted in the collapse of a two-storey building in the Mushin area, paralyzed traffic, and left thousands of residents stranded, with many school children unable to attend classes.
While the Lagos State government reported that the rain lasted for nine hours, in some areas, it began at midnight and continued until noon, totaling 12 hours.
