Joe Igbokwe, the Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu, has written an open apology to Lagosians for the flood that ravaged the state on Saturday, causing loss of property among other things.
The SA, Igbokwe, apologised in a statement on Sunday, saying that the flood could not be separated from the fact that Lagos was a coastal city.
“We acknowledge the damage and losses caused by yesterday’s flood in Lagos,” he said. We sincerely apologise for the pain and tears. We feel the same way as those who have been affected. Lagos is a flood-prone coastal city. This is well known. With 23 million Nigerians, Lagos has the smallest land mass in the country.
He, on the other hand, bemoaned the fact that Lagosians were building houses on flood-control land.
“It (Lagos) is Nigeria’s economic centre. Every day, Lagos produces over 15,000 metric tonnes of garbage. We have low-income areas where it is illegal to build houses, but Lagosians go there to do so.
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“We have wetlands that act as reservoirs for excess floodwaters, but Lagosians will defy the law and build houses there.” To make matters worse, some Lagosians dispose of garbage in our drains or canals. Some people build homes on our canal setbacks, making clearing the drains difficult, if not impossible. To ensure a flood-free Lagos, we must change our habits. Every year, Lagos spends a significant amount of money cleaning canals and aligning many of them with concrete.
“If we behave, we can reduce flooding problems.” Flooding is a global phenomenon as a result of climate change. I was in Sydney, Australia, the other day when I witnessed massive flooding. You must see the victims. In matters of flood management in Lagos, we will continue to do our best. “We are appealing to Lagosians for assistance,” read the statement.
