NEMA: 151 houses affected by flooding in Lagos communities

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says about 151 houses in the Command and Ipaja communities of Lagos were flooded on Tuesday.

In a statement, Ibrahim Farinloye, NEMA Lagos territorial coordinator, said a preliminary assessment was conducted in some communities affected by the rainfall.

Farinloye said the assessment showed that residents were evacuated from 23 houses at Oke Ishagun.

He said 35 houses were affected at Isale Aboru, 29 at Ikola Community and 15 at Olubodun Majiyagbe-Ajayi among others.

He said NEMA is working with the appropriate state ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to ameliorate the effect of the flood on residents.

He added that it is important to adopt disaster risk reduction strategies.

Farinloye said the excessive rainfall earlier on Sunday was a strong signal of what to expect with the outset of 2024 rainfall.

“We must begin to adhere to safety measures against flood disasters. Thanks be to God that no life was lost and no one injured,” he said. 

Farinloye said Mustapha Ahmed, NEMA director-general (DG), has appealed to Nigerians to clear their drainages and desilt them.

He said the DG urged community development associations (CDAs) to be alive to their responsibility by ensuring a safer environment.

He also appealed to local government authorities to sanction corporate organisations blocking drainages around their offices.

He added that residents flouting environmental laws by dumping refuse in drainages should be prosecuted.