Lagos State Govt issues fresh flood alert amidst global warming crisis
The Lagos State Government has issued a strong warning about the increasing risk of flooding due to rising sea levels and unpredictable weather patterns worsened by global warming.
The State Government are urging quick action to strengthen defences and protect against these dangers.
An official statement posted on social media by Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, highlighted the urgent need for robust flood defences and a united commitment to sustainable environmental practices.
“The whispers are gone. Climate change is here, and the water is at our doors. From Mumbai to Miami, from Dubai to Dublin, from Argentina to Australia, Toronto to Texas, cities around the world are facing a new reality – a reality of ferocious flash floods and towering tsunamis.”
Wahab highlighted that global warming is causing increased rainfall, stronger storms, and posing greater dangers to coastal areas. He observed that recent pictures of entire neighbourhoods flooded and people struggling to survive against strong currents have made the problem more immediate and personal.
“The science is undeniable. Our planet’s warming is altering weather patterns and raising sea levels,” Wahab continued. “Closer to home, here in Lagos, we find ourselves at a crossroads. As a bustling hub of commerce and culture, we are also acutely vulnerable to the rising tide.”
Wahab implored swift action to safeguard critical infrastructure and the populace, stressing the imperative of collective action in combating the real and immediate threat posed by global warming.
“Now is the time to act. We need robust flood defences, and a collective commitment to sustainable environmental practices. We must protect our infrastructure, our homes, and most importantly, our people.
“Global warming is real. Ensure you keep your environment clean at all times and do not engage in any activity that can hinder the free flow of water.” Wahab Said
The commissioner called for urgent steps to safeguard the state’s infrastructure, homes, and citizens, stressing the reality of global warming and the necessity for united efforts to address it.
Recent Floodings in Lagos
On Wednesday, July 3, Neusroom reported that areas including Surulere, Ikeja, Oshodi, and Palmgroove on the mainland, as well as Ikoyi, Lekki and Ajah on Lagos Island, were affected by the flood due to the heavy rain that fell day.
Motorists and pedestrians faced a situation where they were unable to proceed to their destinations due to flooding on critical roads such as the Iyana-Oworonshoki link to the Third Mainland Bridge, which connects Lagos Mainland to the Island. Additionally, Obafemi Awolowo Road in Ikeja, the Apapa-Gbagada expressway, and the Lagos-Ibadan highway were also flooded, leading to heavy traffic.
A two-storey building located at No. 12 Cameroon Street in Mushin, Lagos, collapsed on the same day.
Wahab’s recent post on X is in line with the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources initiative to curb flooding in the state. The ministry recently conducted an operation to clear structures obstructing drainage systems in a bid to prevent recurrent flooding in the area.
