The outcome of thunderstorms and heavy downpour in Lagos yesterday paralyzed activities in the state as neighborhoods were heavily flooded, with motorists trapped along major roads, including the ever-busy Third Mainland Bridge. The heavy rain left many stranded as some residents in Lagos decried inability to leave their houses due to perennial flooding caused by poor drainage system in some parts of the metropolis.
According to Vanguard, the combination of high-intensity rainfall and heavy flooding led to trees falling across some roads and roofs being blown off some buildings in parts of the metropolis.
Many residents whose houses were submerged in flood were seen bailing out storm water from their apartments.
Some commuters, who braved the rain by venturing out soon found themselves stranded at flooded bus stops.
Also, many daring motorists had sad tales to tell as their vehicles broke down in the flooded highways in different parts of the city.
As a result of the downpour, some parents and guardians stopped their children and wards who are not currently sitting for examinations from going to school. Indeed, some public and private schools recorded low turnout as pupils stayed away.
Most hard hit by the heavy flooding were places like Ikeja, Agege, Ikorodu Road, Oworosonki, Egbeda, Oshodi, Funsho Williams, Lekki, Ajah, Obalende, among others.
Multiple videos and pictures which trended online captured areas such as the Iyana-Oworo, Olopo Meji area toward the Third Mainland Bridge submerged in flood, resulting in a chaotic traffic situation, extending as far Alapere, old Toll Gate, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway of the state.
Miscreants were captured in a video laying siege under the Lagos Trade Fair, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, demanding the sum of N100 per individual before they could be allowed passage over the flooded part, claiming they provided the structures through their efforts and not government’s. At Agege, Oshodi, Obalende and other areas eyewitness told Global Affairs correspondence how hoodlums carried pedestrians on their backs for an agreed fee of N100 or N200 across flooded points.
Many blamed the state government for failing to enforce environmental protection laws that will prosecute those caught dumping refuse in drainage channels leading to their blockage and flooding whenever it rains.
Expressing their displeasure with the flooding situation in the state, residents called on the state government to come to their rescue.
The Lagos State Government in its reaction called for calm. According to Wahab, in a statement, men have been mobilized to the blocked outlets to allow for seamless movement of stormwater.
“Lagos is a coastal city with almost one-third of its landmass underwater, as such necessitating a genuine reason for every resident to be more responsive to the state of the environment.
“The state government on its part has embarked on a-year-long maintenance and cleaning of all its secondary and primary collectors to be able to contain runoffs that may come from heavy rainfalls.
Residents on their part are expected to regularly clean and maintain the tertiary drains in front of their tenements and refrain from dumping refuse in the drains for the collective good of everyone.”
Speaking on the flooded area of Falomo, he posited thus: “The contractors have deployed, and mobilized men to the blocked outlets to allow for seamless movement of stormwater.”
