LASEMA yet to decide on relief for Lagos flood victims

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency says there is no official communication yet on plans to provide relief materials or compensation to residents who lost valuables and property during the recent flooding in parts of the state.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro in a telephone interview on Thursday, the spokesperson for LASEMA, Afolabi Olawale, said the agency had not received any official directive on the issue.

“As of now, there is no official statement. As you’re talking now, there is no official communication to disseminate on that issue. When it is available, we will disseminate it,” Olawale said.

The response came after the National Emergency Management Agency, in collaboration with LASEMA, carried out a joint assessment of communities affected by the recent flooding to determine the extent of the damage and identify the immediate needs of victims.

The assessment covered communities in Alimosho, Ikeja, Kosofe and Lagos Island Local Government Areas to determine the extent of the damage, identify affected infrastructure and document the humanitarian needs of residents.

Communities visited included Oke-Ira in Ikeja, Oworonshoki and Gbagada in Kosofe, as well as Idumagbo Avenue and Jankara on Lagos Island.

NEMA said findings from the assessment showed that prolonged rainfall, coupled with inadequate drainage systems, caused widespread flooding that affected homes, businesses and public infrastructure.

The agency added that the flooding damaged household property and business assets, disrupted economic activities, rendered several roads temporarily impassable and temporarily displaced some residents.

As part of the exercise, residents were sensitised on flood prevention measures, including proper waste disposal and regular desilting of drains, canals and stormwater channels.

NEMA said it would forward its assessment findings to the appropriate authorities to facilitate the necessary intervention, while urging residents to keep drainage channels free of refuse and avoid activities that obstruct the natural flow of stormwater.

Recall that some residents, in separate interviews with PUNCH Metro, recounted how Sunday’s flooding destroyed household property, damaged vehicles, and disrupted businesses after a section of the perimeter fence collapsed onto a major street.

Some of the victims appealed to the state government to provide some relief materials to cover some of the valuables they lost in the flooding incident.