Lagos State will experience a rainy season of about 240 to 270 days, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, has said.
Bello, at the 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Predictions on Tuesday, said there would be days with extremely high rainfall which might result in sea level rise and flooding.
He explained that the earliest predicted onset of the rainy season for the state by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency was March 17, with a cessation date of November 26.
The commissioner said, “Lagos Island is expected to have about 252 days of rainfall and about 1,714mm of rainfall over the year. Badagry is expected to have about 1,750mm, Ikeja 1,526mm, while that of Ikorodu is 1,690mm and Epe with 1,730mm.”
The commissioner said the state had put measures in place in preparation for the rainy season, including clearing of drainage and water channels, as well as rehabilitation of dumpsites.
According to him, the ministry is set to provide all-year-round drainage maintenance for flood control with dredging of all primary channels and cleaning of all secondary collectors to enable them to discharge efficiently and act as retention basins.
He further stated that there would be a continuous partnership with the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority to control and monitor the systematic release of water from Oyan Dam to prevent flooding of downstream communities.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Drainage and Water Resources, Joe Igbokwe, said 18 channels had so far been cleared across the state to allow for free flow of water.
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