**Date**: September 3, 2023
*Lagos, Nigeria*:
The Lagos State Government has issued a flood alert to residents, particularly those residing downstream of the Ogun River. This alert comes in response to an updated 2023 Water Releases Forecast for Flood Control by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority, which will be effective from September onwards. The government has urged residents to relocate to safe areas as heavy rainfall continues to be experienced in the region.
Engineer Lekan Shodeinde, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources in Lagos State, emphasized the government’s primary concern for the safety of lives and properties of residents. He advised those in the listed catchment areas, including Alagbole, Meiran, Maidan, Kara, Isheri-Olowora, Agiliti, Owode-Onirin, Owode-Elede, Agboyi I, Agboyi II, Ajegunle, Itowolo, Majidun, Ibeshe, Baiyeku, Maidan, and Lekki-Ajah axis, to be prepared to move to higher ground when the water level rises and shows signs of flooding.
The government’s alert is prompted by increased rainfall in 2023 compared to previous years, raising concerns about potential flooding. Shodeinde explained that the total amount of rainfall recorded from January to August 2023 is significantly higher than the same period in 2021 and 2022. This trend indicates that the remaining months of the year may see a high intensity of rainfall.
The water levels in tributaries, including the Oyan Dam, are rising, contributing to the likelihood of downstream flooding. Shodeinde emphasized that other channels and tributaries discharging into the lagoon may experience tidal lock and flow back due to high water levels, leading to flash flooding.
To mitigate the risk of flooding, the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OSRBA) has increased its daily releases of water to create more space in anticipation of higher inflow in September 2023. Shodeinde assured residents that the water releases are being regulated without compromising the integrity of the Oyan Dam.
The alert also mentioned the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon to the Benue River, clarifying that only 11 states would be affected by these releases and that there is no connection between the Lagdo Dam releases and the operations of the Oyan Dam.
Shodeinde called on all residents in Lagos State to cooperate with the government’s measures and early warning alerts to mitigate the effects of flash flooding, especially as the city is prone to such events due to its coastal location and heavy rainfall during the months of September and December each year.
