Lagos state Government on Wednesday alerted residents of the state, especially those residing on the banks of Ogun River to be ready to protect themselves because of high intensity of flooding occasioned by heavy rainfall and release of water.
In a statement signed by the State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, October is the peak period that may bring about flooding of the areas that are contiguous to the Ogun River.
He stressed that going by the projection of the Seasonal Rainfall Pattern released early in the year by the Nigerian Metrological Services NIMET, the peak of the resurgent rainfall for the year will be in October.
Tunji Bello said the situation may also be worsened by the release of water from Oyan Dam by the managers, the Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority which has increased the level of water of the lagoon.
He added that all identified areas like Ketu, Alapere, Agric, Owode Onirin, Ajegunle, Alagbole, Kara, Isheri Olowora, Araromi Otun Orisha community, Agiliti, Maidan, Mile 12, Odo Ogun, Owode Elede, Agboyi 1, Agboyi II, Agboyi III must have to be alert to relocate upland at any time.
He explained that the State is also working in concert with the Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority to ensure that water releases from the dam has minimal negative impact on the residents.
Bello stated that in the light of these, Ogun Osun River Basin Authority informed that it has so far released approximately 670.7 million cubic meters (mcm) volume of water from January 2022 till date.
He added that the water release projection from the Ogun Oshun River Basin relying on the early year projection of NIMET and Nigerian Hydrological Services NIHSA, projects that it intends to maximize the created space in the reservoir and released at a controlled and average rate of 5-6 million cubic meter per day to allow other major and uncontrolled tributaries to River Ogun to discharge into the sea.
While for the months of November and December, the impounded water by the Ogun Oshun River Basin will be released gradually at an average rate of 2-4 million cubic meters per day for November and December before the closure of the radial gates for Year 2022.
However, the advice is being given to avoid human casualty that may accompany heavy flooding that is projected around the Ogun River area around this time.
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