EXCLUSIVE: Ocean Surge Sweeps through Lagos Beaches

Eko Atlantic City Project 

 Environmentalists yesterday warned members of the public and fun-seekers to be on their guard against the ongoing ocean surge in Kuramo, Oniru and Bar beaches,  which is currently experiencing surges, exacerbated by the turbulence of the ocean and probably influenced by the Eko Atlantic City Project.

While debunking claims that the ocean surge snowballed into flooding of the Lekki axis of the state, the Public Relations Spokesperson, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-west zone, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said only turbulence was experienced.

He said, "Contrary to claims, there was no flooding in Lagos or Lekki and if they were, we would have been alerted. The only alert we received today was concerning an ocean surge.

"Some environmentalists had contacted NEMA to alert us to warn members of the public not to swim in the ocean on any of the beaches due to the heavy turbulence of the water.

"Although the surge does not mean that they cannot visit the beach, they are urged to stay away from the water because ocean surges carries whatever is in its path."

He said the agency initially didn't want to raise an alarm and cause panic, rather, to do a deeper analysis of the surge with a group of experts from different agencies. 

On whether the surge was exacerbated by the Atlantic project, Farinloye said that was part of what the experts would liaise and discuss during the stakeholders meeting and then work on ways to ameliorate the effect of the project on the ocean.

The surge is in line with the prediction by Olayinka, a hydrographer and consultant lecturer with University of Lagos, at the 2013 World Hydrography Day Celebration held at Oriental Hotel and organised by the Nigerian Hydrographers Society (NHS) . 

Stressing that unless proper monitoring is put in place, the Eko Atlantic City would not be safe, she had added that when the five cowries creek which serves as a border zone is blocked, the breakwater will go back towards the commodore channel as a surge.