The Victoria Island branch of the
Nigerian Society of Engineers has warned Lagos State Government to intensify
its flood management efforts.
It predicted that Epe, Eti-Osa,
Amuwo Odofin, Ojo, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Apapa, Ibeju-Lekki and Ikorodu Local
Government Areas may be submerged if adequate measures were not put in place.
NSE at a discussion on Thursday
said a recent research showed that Eti-Osa could be totally submerged in a few
years time if there was no concrete management of flooding.
It urged environmentalists,
sociologists, lawyers, engineers, economists and other professionals to
collaborate with the state government and jointly find lasting solution.
Sunday Egbiki, in his paper
presentation said mere clearing of drainage channels would not work on Victoria
Island and other areas.
Egbiki, a fellow of the NSE, said
some parts in Lagos were lying below the sea level, a situation he said was
risky.
Egbiki, who spoke on:
“Engineering Flood Management and Disaster Mitigation,” advised the state
government to relocate residents of the local governments susceptible to
perennial flooding elsewhere.
“The traditional approach of
solving flood and drainage problems must change if we are to achieve any
meaningful and sustainable progress in this area,” he said.
He advised Lagos government to
adopt the Integrated Flood Management system, which he noted if well
implemented would end flooding.
Egbiki listed causes of flooding
to include: climate change, increased rate of urbanisation along flood plains,
inadequate maintenance of infrastructure and sea level rise.
John Audu, another fellow of the
NSE, delivered a paper on: “Safety Precaution for the Public in the event of
disaster.”
He stressed the importance of
caution during wet season and advised residents to always disconnect all
electrical appliances in their homes when an area is flooded to guide against
being victims of electrocution.
Audu also advised the public to
always keep emergency numbers and call for help on time, use disinfectants and
adopt other hygienic measures to avoid an outbreak of diseases during and after
flooding.
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