Residents in Lagos State have been advised by the government to prepare for higher than average rainfall, which is expected to begin in the first week of April and end in December. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, made this announcement during the 2023 press briefing on Seasonal Climate Predictions and its socio-economic implications for Lagos, held at Alausa, Ikeja.
According to the commissioner, the expected rainfall for 2023 is 1936.2mm, which is more than the state’s long-term average of 1721.48mm in the last decade. Specifically, he stated that Ikeja will experience an annual rainfall amount of 1,900mm, while Badagry will have 1,978mm.
He further added that Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe will receive rainfall with annual amounts of 1,903mm, 1,936mm, and 1,952mm, respectively, starting on April 1 and ending on December 3, 2023.
Bello also warned that there could be an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, such as days of heavy rainfall, which may result in flooding due to the anticipated strong winds during the onset and cessation of each rainfall. The commissioner emphasized that the state government is working in collaboration with the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority to effectively manage flooding.
