5. Conclusion and Recommendations
The purpose of this research work is to map the areas prone to flooding in Surulere. From the results of the
analysis carried out, it is clear that the entire Surulere area is prone to flooding. This is due to a number of factors
mentioned in the paper. If serious measures are not taken soon, taking the increasingly high rainfall into
consideration, the area is in danger of being submerged with floods with lives and properties in danger of being
destroyed. The year, 2014 alone, high rainfall intensity has led to flood incidents that left washed out roads, destroyed
structures and loss of lives in its trail e.g. in the Ebute-metta, Cele and Aguda areas. Therefore, it is important
for the Lagos State government to put in place measures to mitigate flooding in Surulere. Such measures
include:
• Careful planning of development in potentially flood prone areas. This should be supported by appropriate
legislation, public information and education programmes (to ensure that residents understand the flood risk),
flood insurance, and flood warning systems (to reduce the impact of floods).
• Flood forecasting and flood warning services. This service has been readily provided by the Nigerian Meteorological
Agency.
• Roads should be constructed with proper drainage channels and dumping of refuse in drainage channels
should be prohibited and penalties attached to non-adherence.
• More drainage channels and reservoirs should be constructed such as canals and gutters. Side drains and
gutters could have removable precast concrete or steel cover for ease of maintenance. Water meadow areas
can be created with which to divert flood water.
• Drainage channels should be cleaned out regularly to avoid blockage by silts and mud. This can be achieved
by enforcing the monthly environmental sanitation by the local government authorities.
• Runoff control - source control measures should be put in place to reduce the amount of runoff in the event
of flooding. These measures include construction of permeable pavements, afforestation and artificial recharge.
Also stores of runoff can be created such as wetlands, detention basins and reservoirs [18].
• More in-depth research should be carried out on the impact of global climate change and associated impacts
on floods.
• Flood risk maps should be produced and a comprehensive floodplain management plan should be developed
for areas likely to be affected by floods. Also flood management studies should be carried out to discover
more advanced and effective ways to control flooding.
• The government should put a ban on the construction of buildings on flood plains with penalties attached.
However, there should be adequate awareness and dissemination of this information in the media and also
the availability of flood risk maps to the public.
• Residents of Surulere, as groups and as individuals, and corporate bodies should be implored and encouraged
to embark on some palliative measures such as dredging and re-dredging of drains, erosion passages
and others; and construction of embankments and channelization of some routes that are prone to flooding.
• Resettlement strategies and emergency preparedness plans should be developed by the involved the government
in order to easily evacuate citizens in the occurrence of flood disasters.
Reference [18] best summarized the need for emergency plans, stating as follows:
“Flood warnings and timely emergency action are complimentary to all forms of intervention. A combination
of clear and accurate warning messages with a high level of community awareness gives the best level of preparedness
for self-reliant action during floods. Public education programs are crucial to the success of warnings
intended to preclude a hazard from turning into a disaster. Evacuation is an essential constituent of emergency
planning and evacuation routes may be upward into a flood refuge at a higher elevation or outward, depending
upon the local circumstances. Outward evacuations are generally necessary where the depths of water are significant,
where flood velocities are high and where the buildings are vulnerable. Successful evacuations require
planning and awareness among the population of what to do in a flood emergency. Active community participation
in the planning stage and regular exercises help ensure that evacuations are effective. The provision of basic
amenities such as water supply, sanitation and security in areas where refugees gather is particularly important
in establishing a viable evacuation system.”
• Finally, Flood recovery measures such as counseling, compensation and insurance should be put in place.
The pros and the cons of the policy of flood insurance should however be weighed before implemented. Also,
the sociological aspects of coping with flood in affected areas should be taken seriously and appropriate
C. B. Okoye, V. N. Ojeh
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counseling given to affected victims.
Currently, Some of these measure are already being put in place by the Lagos State government. An article in
the [19] stated, “Given the prediction of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) that this year will witness
heavy rains, the Lagos Government has commenced construction of drainages and canals in the Surulere Local
Government Area to reduce the impacts on its citizens”.
Also, The Lagos State Government is clearing slums, especially those on the drainage channels and right of
way. Recently, at Adelabu area in Surulere, behind an elitist school, Fountain Heights Secondary School, a slum
community of over 2,000 inhabitants including women and children, were given an eviction notice to allow for
the construction of channels and drainage to check flooding in Surulere, which has been a yearly occurrence due
to the activities of these people [19]. Also, the Lagos state commissioner for environment, Mr Tunji Bello said
that the government would no longer tolerate the construction of shanties and on drainage channels.
However, the governments both at the state and local levels have to do more in order to prevent/reduce future
occurrences of flooding in Surulere. If all or most of the measures listed above are taken into consideration and
embarked on, flood incidences in Surulere would be greatly reduced.