In recent weeks, many countries have experienced massive and continuous downpour. Between June 18 and July 15, nearly 90mm of rain fell in Lagos and this wreaked havoc in a lot of communities. While some families woke up to their homes being flooded, some had to be evacuated from their residences as a result of the irredeemable damages caused by the continuous rainfall. Surrounded by a massive body of water, it is understandable why Lagos State experiences a high volume of rainfall annually.
It is important to note that flooding is not caused by rainfall alone but various factors such as mudslides, dam break amongst others. For better understanding, flooding is defined as the flooding of a community or a particular area, which is mostly caused by heavy rainfall.
The most common cause of flooding is heavy rainfall. Since the volume of rainfall cannot be controlled, a lot of communities tend to experience flooding afterwards. Going to communities that regularly experience this flooding, we tend to visibly see the causes of these flooding. One of the eye-catching factors behind flooding in these communities is the absence of a proper drainage system. The effect of this is, once it begins to rain, since there are no drainages to safely direct the water away from the residences, a body of water then congregates on the streets and most times flows into houses.
In most cases, there has been provision of drainages but these drainages have been blocked with bottles, Styrofoam, plastics etc. As a result of poor water disposal mechanisms in Lagos state, a lot of home waste products end up in drainages. In other words, man’s irresponsibility ends up blocking drainages thereby obstructing the easy flow of water through the drainages. Since the drainages are blocked and water cannot go through, water then overflows the drainages, filling up the streets, thereby flooding the environment. In communities that have wet soils, it is easy for flooding to occur because the soil is unable to absorb the additional water from rainfall.
In proffering a solution to this perennial crisis, there is need for a deliberate attitudinal change from all citizens. There is an urgent need for the following;
Construction of more drainages in heavily affected communities
Clearing of existing drainages by citizens
Banning the use of Styrofoam
Rigorous and effective recycling to used plastics
Sensitization on the need to keep drainages free
Enactment of a law criminalizing improper disposal of waste.