Massive flood wreaks havoc, submerge houses, disrupts business activities in Lagos, Ogun communities

 

An early morning rainfall that has refused to ease has resulted in massive flooding of some communities in Lagos and neighboring Ogun State.

The rainfall, which began in the early morning of Wednesday, flooded people’s homes and disrupted business activities as residents could not commute.

 

Major roads in Lagos such as Oworonshoki, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ikeja, Alapere, Iyana-Oworo, Oshodi, Ile-epo, Abattoir, Victoria Island, among others, have become ponds of water, resulting in traffic gridlocks across the nation’s commercial nerve centre.

The story wasn’t different in Epe, Eredo, Bogije, Labora, Abijon, Sangotedo, Awoyaya and Ibeju-Lekki, whose residents have also reported flooding in their neighbourhoods.

In nearby Ogun State, places like Sango, Ota, Alagbado, Atan, Oju-ore, and Lusada had been submerged by flood.

A report by Leadership Newspaper quoted a resident of Atan Ota, Abayomi Rufai, who lamented that his properties worth several millions of naira were affected by the heavy downpour.

According to him, the flood was due to improper channelling of flood water that led to blockage and building on drainage right of ways in his community.

He, however, called on the Ogun State government to rescue their community before things get out of hand.

“Currently, I can’t access my house. I have to rely on commercial motorcycles because the road leading to my house is currently cut off from the major road due to the flood. Governor Dapo Abiodun should come to our aid before it becomes too late,” Rufai stated.

Also speaking, a resident in the Labora area of Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos State, Rasheed Abayomi, said his house was submerged by water due to lack of a functional drainage system in the new housing site, where he lives.

He lamented that water filled his home and destroyed some of his belongings.

“There is too much water flowing into my compound, the entire house is submerged.

“I live in a new site where there is no drainage which makes the water run into residential homes, rendering us homeless because we can’t sleep inside the water,” he said.

Another resident, Seyi Arowosaye, decried the perennial flooding in Ibeju-Lekki Expressway due to blockage of drains in the metropolis.

Arowosaye called on Ibeju-Lekki Local Government authorities to clear the drainages and urged residents to desist from further dumping of waste in drainages to control flooding.

He also urged the Lagos State Government to speed up the completion of road repairs in Sangotedo area of Ibeju.

Another resident, Mrs Bola Fadugba lamented the effect of the torrential downpour and flooding in Labora area.

“I live in Labora but during the rainy season, I do relocate with my family to my younger sister’s house in the Eputu area.

“Flood has taken over my house due to lack of drainage in the environment.

“So many areas in the metropolis are also affected by flooding, the government should find a lasting solution to this perennial flooding challenge,” she said.