PRESS RELEASE
Lagos State Government on Wednesday assured of July ending completion of work on a mega pumping station being constructed in Ilubirin to permanently address the issue of flooding in Lagos Island.
Speaking with newsmen after an assessment tour of level of work on the pumping station located in the Ilubirin Estate, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Engineer Nurudeen Shodeinde said when completed, the station will address the perennial flooding issues in Adeniji, Oroyinyin, Idumagbo, Ojo Giwa, Jankara and environs
According to Shodeinde, construction work on the mega pumping station is expected to be concluded by end of July and will permanently solve the problem of back flowing of water from the Lagoon to the listed areas causing the water to remain stagnant.
L-R. – Director, Drainage Construction, Office of Drainage Services Engr. Dapo Ajadi, Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Engr. Lekan Shodeinde and Director, Drainage Enforcement and Compliance, Engr. Mahmood Adegbite discussing a point of interest during a project tour to the Construction site of a New Mega Pumping Station at Ilubirin Housing Estate to end incessant flooding of Lagos Island on the 3rd of May, 2023.
He stressed that three mega turbine pumps with the capacity to pump 3million liters of storm water per hour will be installed at the station to continuously pump water into the lagoon.
He explained that the Big turbine pumps are designed to function automatically and self operating while being powered majorly by public power electricity which will be backed up with a 350KVA generator with capacity to pump any accumulated water.
The Permanent Secretary stressed that the major problem responsible for flooding is the depressed nature of the affected areas which makes it difficult for water to naturally drain into the Lagoon saying that the situation prompted the State to also construct a new rectangular drainage outlet at the Ilubirin end which is higher than the sea level.
He explained that water is moved either by gravity or by pumping, bearing in mind that Lagos Island is the lowest-lying part of the state and has made it difficult for water to flow into the lagoon, hence a sump which is 20 by 20 meters in length and breadth and 6-7meters deep into the ground will be created where the three turbine pumping machines will be installed thereby creating artificial energy to pump the storm water out into the lagoon.
He explained further that the Turbine pumps which are individually 4meters high will be installed deep into the water to maintain the temperature of the coils of the pump with a discharge point that is created higher than the level of the lagoon, adding that after the completion of the project, there will be no record of water flowing back from the lagoon into the communities.
Shodeinde said the mega pumping station project will replace the temporary wall embarkment constructed at Ilubirin that was aimed at preventing the back flow of the Lagoon.
L-R. – Director, Drainage Construction, Office of Drainage Services Engr. Dapo Ajadi, Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Engr. Lekan Shodeinde and Director, Drainage Enforcement and Compliance, Engr. Mahmood Adegbite discussing a point of interest during a project tour to the Construction site of a New Mega Pumping Station at Ilubirin Housing Estate to end incessant flooding of Lagos Island on the 3rd of May, 2023.
He stressed that was being experienced in Adeniji and environs can also be regarded as one of the effects of climate change, saying though Lagos has been projected as one of the sinking cities of the world but no Government will fold its hands and not put measures in place to avert such projections.
He thereafter adviced residents of Lagos Island to desist from dumping refuse into the drains and canals, urging them to take ownership of their environment by moving against individuals who are in the habit as this has become a major contributor to flooding in the State.
The Permanent Secretary was accompanied by the Directors of Drainage Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance, Engr Kunle Adegbite, Drainage Construction, Engr Dapo Ajadi and Drainage Maintenance, Engr Olalekan Ajani amongst others.
Signed
Kunle Adeshina
Director Public Affairs
MOE&WR
May 3rd 2023.