Nigeria: Lagos folks, government brace up for more rains
The Daily Sun reports that the Nigerian Meterological Agency has forecast 238 days of rainfall this year in Lagos. Critics say that the government is not prepared to handle flood situations and that they do not respond rapidly to emergency situations. The condition of drainages are poor, many of them are clogged by waste. Unfortunately, even existing policies to curb illegal dumping in waterways are not enforced.
According to Tessy Igomu, the author of the article, Lagos, similarly to other countries, "don’t yet have the capacity to face the challenges of the times posed mainly by changing climatic conditions." He quotes a resident: "It pays to be prepared, not just now but for the future," and argues that for any sustainable development to be achieved in Lagos state, the issue of flooding most be properly and urgently addressed.