Vehicles were stranded and businesses paralyzed in parts of Lagos State on Wednesday after hours of torrential rain caused flash flooding in many towns.
It was observed that the downpour caused chaos in flood-prone communities throughout the state, including Maryland, Lekki, Ogba, and Ikorodu.
Residents and business owners mourned the flood’s destruction of their homes and businesses.
Similarly, our correspondents saw much footage on social media sites of residents wading through flooded neighborhoods, as well as automobiles driving slowly on flooded roadways.
An overflowing canal on Olatunji Street in Maryland cut off access to the adjacent Mende settlement.
A resident, Chinasa Nnadi, stated that the flood had been a regular sight whenever it rained for as long as the residents of both areas could recall.
She said, “This has been happening for years now, and it’s very hard for vehicles to go in or out of there. People even swim to their houses. It is not easy for people living around there to come out of their houses because the flood is too much. Some will even go as far as relocating to another place due to the flood.”
A businessman simply identified as Kalu, who had lived in the Lagos community for three years, said he was shocked at how rapidly the flood crept across the street.
He said, “I watched as people tried to scoop water out of their homes after it entered their houses. I also suffered the same fate as the water flowed into my shop.”
A member of a local church, only known as Christiana, also described how the worship center was flooded, ruining some instruments in the process.
She said, “The flood has affected our church’s musical instruments. We will have to spend lots of money either to fix or replace them. When the canal is full, the water gets into the church, and it reaches half the building of the church; it causes extreme damage.”
The downpour, however, exacerbated the problems of cars and pedestrians who were stranded in gridlock on multiple flooded routes throughout the state.
In some regions, vehicles broke down on flooded roads, exacerbating the situation for commuters who had to wait for buses for hours.
The Ogba-Wempco crossroads was flooded, as it often is during a downpour, impeding vehicular traffic in the area.
Tunji Abass, a commuter, shared his experience, lamenting how the flood caused him to spend more time in traffic than usual.
“The vehicles were moving very slowly due to the flooded portion of the road. It has always been like that during the rainy season. It becomes even worse times that water flows into people’s vehicles. The earlier the government attends to this, the better.”
Victor Obinna, a local working in the Ikate district of the state, lamented that he had to sleep in the workplace whenever it rained owing to traffic congestion.
He also mentioned that the road leading to his office used to be flooded, and he had to maneuver through the water to get there.
He said, “I stay in the office all through the week, and whenever I don’t stay in the office, I walk through the flood before getting to the office. Sometimes, I even had to dress up in the office because by the time I got to the office, half of my body would have been soaked.”
A video on Wednesday showed how some roads in the community were flooded.
Flooding in Lagos costs billions of naira each year, causing residents to lose houses, stores, automobiles, and man-hours due to gridlock. Stagnant floodwater frequently causes epidemics of waterborne infections, putting public health at risk as well.
The Lagos State Government, on the other hand, expressed sympathy for people devastated by the flash floods that swept over portions of the state, reassuring them that steps were being taken to address reoccurring instances.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, stated on Wednesday that Lagos, as a coastal city, remained vulnerable to flooding, particularly during heavy rainfall and tidal lock.
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He did, however, point out that the government had continued to invest in drainage infrastructure, desilting, and environmental law enforcement to mitigate the impact on citizens.
Wahab clarified that the flooding in the Kusenla region of Lekki was caused by a technical issue and that the downstream was higher than the existing drainage system.
He also stated that the government has already granted a project for the construction of a pumping station to handle the issue.
He also stated that flooding near the House on the Rock church was caused by unlawful construction on floodplains and indiscriminate dumping of waste in drains, emphasizing how such acts exacerbated the problem.
“Clear infractions were observed in some of the videos shared yesterday. The state government will ensure that illegal structures, obstructions, and reclamations carried out without proper approvals are promptly removed,” Wahab said.
“We appeal for understanding and continued cooperation from the public. Keeping our environment clean, refraining from dumping refuse into drains, and avoiding construction on floodplains are vital to achieving a flood-free Lagos.
“In several of the videos shared yesterday, clear infractions were observed, and @followlasg will ensure that such illegal structures and obstructions are promptly removed.
“Including those illegal reclamations carried out without the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment Report and the Drainage Clearance.
“We also wish to assure residents that the flooding was a flash flood in some parts of the state and has since receded this morning.
“The ministry remains committed to strengthening our flood management systems, but this effort requires the support and responsible actions of all Lagosians. Together, we can build a safer, cleaner, and more resilient Lagos,” the statement added.
