The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has promised that Nigerians will have some relief from the rains and flood in mid-july.

Thebreak, known as ‘little dry season’, should be expected by the third week in July, Cyprian Okoloye, deputy regional manager of the agency told the Punch following floods across Lagos and other South-Western states this week.

“We are at the peak of the season right now. The floods cannot be wished away, especially in the South-West.

“In Abuja yesterday, the rain was very heavy. But by the third week in July, there will be what we call a little dry season,” he said.

Thursday’s downpour caused considerable havoc, the report notes:

Areas worst hit were Mende-Maryland, Yakoyo-Alagbole, Akute-Ajuwon, Obawole, Obadeyi-Ajala, Jakande-Ejigbo, Oworonsoki, LASU-Iyana Iba, Dopemu, Ile-Epo, and other parts on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

By Wednesday night, the rain, which had fallen from the beginning of the week, had sacked many Lagos residents from their homes, while many children could not go to school the following morning.

Traffic gridlock became the lot of people in the metropolis, especially on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, where the roads had given way.

A concerned Nigerian had called for help for a family caught in the flood that had taken over their abode in Mende, Maryland.

He said that because of the peculiarity of the closeness of the area to nature, the water was at a point populated by snakes, which further endangered the lives of the residents.

It could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report if help eventually came the way of the family.

However, in his reaction, Okoloye said that the climatic trend had so far been consistent with the agency’s predictions presented to the public last March.

He said the Director-General, NIMET, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, had explained that the prediction was presented to the public to alert Nigerians, state and federal governments to taking appropriate steps to reduce loss of lives and property.

He said the report had stated that Nigerians should expect normal rainfall, but added that some parts of the country would experience floods that might wash away houses, structures and farmlands.

Gird your loins.