The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, has embarked on a sensitization campaign against flooding with the theme: “Flood Free Lagos 2023, Building Resilience is our Collective Responsibility”
The campaign which kicked-off at the multipurpose hall of Ijaiye-Ojokoro LCDA was attended by Chairmen and representatives of Commuunity Development Associations in the Council.
Addressing the people, LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu explained that the Agency decided to take the campaign to their doorsteps because the council is one of the flood prone Local Government Areas within the State.
Outlining the dangers, including loss of lives and properties, Dr Oke-Osanyintolu announced that the Sanwo-Olu’s administration had employed a multi agency and holistic strategy to combat flooding and urged the people to cooperate by playing their own parts.
“NIMET has predicted heavy rainfall this year and because of the topography, Lagos is prone to flash flood that disappear few hours after rainfall, I want to advice you to avoid acts capable of blocking drainages, most emergency that occur during rainfall are man-made, please, complement government efforts at ensuring a flood free Lagos, it is our collective responsibility, under the watch of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we shall be employing a holistic approach to tackle flooding, don’t build on the Waterways, if you do, we will remove your buildings” Oke-Osanyintolu cautioned.
Dr Oke-Osanyintolu also commiserated with families that lost their loved ones to flood and prayed for the repose of the departed souls.
The LCDA Chairman, Mr Hammed Idowu-Tijani, thanked LASEMA for being proactive by embarking on the sensitzation campaign
The Council Boss further urged the Community leaders to educate those at the grassroots on dangers of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages during rainfall.
He said “This campaign is timely, though we had embarked on similar awareness programmes in the past, but this one in particular is coming at the right time, we will also boost our own programme and we belive that with concerted efforts, the issue of flooding will no longer be a challenge for us”
Some of the CDA Chairmen, who commended LASEMA, urged the State and local governments to expand the drainge systems in some of their streets, and further ensure the implementation of Environmental sanitation laws.