A family pushes their stalled car out of a flooded street south of Nairobi January 15. Overnight rains, stretching to midmorning, caused heavy flooding in many parts of the city where roads are in disrepair. WEATHER KENYA - RTRAHBZ
The impact of the torrential recent rains in Lagos and some Nigerian cities may have demystified the Centre Of Excellence and possibly eroded the lofty achievements recorded by Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, Governor of the State in the past two years, analysts said at the weekend.
While some states like Ekiti, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Edo and Bayelsa are counting their financial and material losses, the rating and image of the nation’s economic centre and aspiring mega city is being damaged by these yearly disasters that seem to have defied solutions.
Notwithstanding, the break and the cleanup of some of the havoc wrought by the floods, fears are rife that more high worth commercial and residential zones in Lagos may still be flooded this year before the rains subside.
In fact a recent report, which chronicles flooding hazards of 16 years in the State, has shown that such events may result in loss of up to 260,000 lives in the next 10 years. This may be accompanied by a GDP (gross domestic product) loss of $5526.2million and $48.1million urban damage.
Some of the analysts who spoke with Sunday Independent at the weekend expressed surprised at the alarming predicted loss of lives to the disasters, as well as, inability of successive governments to tackle the menace headlong despite the huge amount of Internally Generate Revenue, particularly from labour residents in the state.
According to Bola Agbola, executive director, Cashcraft Asset Management Limited, “The figure of 260,000 potential human loss in 10 years to flood disaster is most frightening. Lagos State has the resources to minimize if not eliminate the worsening annual disaster if the will is there.
The indiscriminate reclamation of lands must stop, while drainage projects in flood prone areas needs to be reviewed and completed .The State must dredge all canals and clear block culverts ahead of the raining season.
This year’s flooding in Lagos was the most devastating in 10 years because preparation for 2017 raining season traditional flash floods was invisible and probably not profound. The Governor of Lagos State should tackle the problem headlong by building new canals and route most culverts that were built after the existing canals into the canals.”
Stephen Jagun, former NIESV Lagos State chairman, said the flood issue did not start overnight. We run a system that needs holistic overhaul because we are too myopic about our planning and so our planning is one reason.
He identified numerous reclamation projects in Lagos State as another strong factor, adding that though Eko Atlantic is eight metres above sea level, Victory Island, is naturally a waterbed.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, executive director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) said Eko Atlantic City project and unmitigated sand dredging along the Lekki and Ajah corridor for the ultimate pleasure of the wealthy could make life miserable for the residents.
“We have said it time and again that environmental sustainability goes beyond showmanship and sweet pronouncements.”
Bode Adediji, past president, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers attributed government’s insensitivity to one major reason for the flooding.
However, weighing the effects of the floods on property market, the professionals unanimously agreed that there would be a further drop, though marginally. They express sympathy with the victims whose properties in those areas have been witnessing low occupancy rate of about 30 percent due to low disposable income as a result of the burden of the recession would further witness further reduction.
They are of the opinion that combining the current crisis and losses with t
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