Vehicular and commercial activities were thrown into disarray across several parts of Lagos State on Wednesday as hours of torrential rainfall unleashed flash floods in multiple communities.
Areas including Maryland, Lekki, Ogba, and Ikorodu were worst hit, with homes, shops, and worship centres submerged. Videos circulating on social media showed residents wading through flooded streets and motorists struggling to navigate waterlogged roads.
On Olatunji Street, Maryland, the overflow of a canal cut off access to the adjoining Mende community. A resident, Chinasa Nnadi, lamented, “This has been happening for years now… It is not easy for people living around there to come out of their houses because the flood is too much.”
Business owners and worshippers also counted losses. A trader identified as Kalu said floodwater swept into his shop, while Christiana, a church member, revealed that their worship centre’s musical instruments were destroyed.
The downpour also caused gridlock as vehicles broke down on submerged roads. A commuter, Tunji Abass, said, “The vehicles were moving very slowly due to the flooded portion of the road. It has always been like that during the rainy season.”
Another resident, Victor Obinna, explained that he sometimes sleeps in his office whenever it rains, to avoid being stranded. “Sometimes, I even had to dress up in the office because by the time I got there, half of my body would have been soaked,” he said.
Reacting, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, sympathised with affected residents, noting that Lagos, as a coastal city, remains vulnerable to flooding. He explained that flooding in parts of Lekki stemmed from technical drainage challenges, while in other areas, illegal construction and indiscriminate refuse disposal worsened the problem.
Wahab stressed that the government had invested in drainage infrastructure, desilting, and enforcement of environmental laws. “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,” he stated.
He added that the flooding had receded by Thursday morning, while calling on residents to support government efforts by keeping the environment clean and avoiding construction on floodplains.
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