Trending currently on the news is the calamitous extrusion of lava on the streets following vigorous eruptions from the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, cutting off water supply, power and communication lines with people forced to leave their homes for safety. Yet other areas around the world are known for earthquakes, avalanches, mudslides, tornados, storms and wildfires. More commonly in Nigeria, we experience occasional flooding.
As we are now in the beginning of the rainy season, The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted 60 per cent chances of the wettest season ever in the history of Nigeria in 2018. This is cumulative of all the states of the Federation.
However, due to climate change, this prediction may not turn out to be accurate.
Lagos has a tropical wet and dry climate with two distinct rainy seasons; the more intense season occurs between April and July, with a milder one from October to November. At the peak of the rainy season, the weather in Lagos is wet about half the time.
Should we then seek to build only on higher land? Probably the first choice if available.
Can you afford it?
Can you cope with the congestion and population density in such areas?
If your answer to the questions above are *No*, how then can you protect your property from flood in Lekki?
1. Buy land from developers and estates who follow good and standard practices for land fill
2. Employ experienced and qualified builders with good knowledge of the Ibeju Lekki terrain.
They know what to do!
Fact:
All water from the island drains into the lagoon.So, you must construct such that your site level is higher than the lagoon water level.
Provision must be made for increase in water levels when the rains come.
Here are some of the things they would do:
_- Sandfill far above the natural water level._ ( Diamond Estate Phase 2,Sangotedo is already sand filled)_- Sandfill above any proposed road level within your vicinity_
_- Raise your foundation far above your sandfill level_
_- Do not start your raft before sandfilling_
_- Create a temporary buffer collector zone between your plot and your access road ( *our estates provide this uniform drainage as part of the infrastructure* )_
_- Ensure your site gradient is sloppy outwardly_
_-Avoid the use of double or divergent slopes_
_- Construct your fence/gate using cellular raft as it is as important as your building_
_- If you and your builders follow these rules, you are most likely not going to experience flooding in your property even in the event of a flood from excessive rainfall.
By Olumayowa Adesanya