Vehicular and commercial activities came to a standstill in parts of Lagos on Wednesday following hours of heavy rainfall that triggered flash floods in several communities.
The downpour, which began early in the day, submerged major roads and neighbourhoods including Maryland, Lekki, Ogba, and Ikorodu, leaving many residents and motorists stranded.
Radio Nigeria gathered that the overflowing floodwaters not only cut off road access but also invaded homes, shops, and places of worship, forcing many residents to count their losses.
At Olatunji Street in Maryland, the overflow of a canal made it impossible for vehicles and pedestrians to access the adjoining Mende community.
A resident, Chinasa Nnadi, described the flooding as a recurring ordeal.
According to her, “This has been happening for years now. Vehicles find it very hard to move in and out, and sometimes people even swim to their houses. Many residents are forced to relocate because of the flood.”
Another resident and business owner, Mr. Kalu, lamented how quickly the water spread into his shop. “I watched as people scooped water out of their homes. Unfortunately, I suffered the same fate as the flood entered my shop,” he said.
Similarly, a member of a church in the area, Christiana, narrated how floodwaters destroyed several musical instruments in their worship centre. “The water reaches almost halfway up the church building whenever the canal overflows, causing serious damage,” she explained.
The situation was not different in other parts of the state.
Videos shared on social media showed residents wading through flooded streets while motorists moved at a snail’s pace.
In some areas, vehicles broke down on waterlogged roads, worsening traffic congestion and prolonging commuters’ travel time.
At the Ogba-Wempco junction, a known flood-prone spot, traffic was severely disrupted.
A commuter, Tunji Abass, said he spent several hours in gridlock. “Vehicles were moving slowly because of the flood. This has always been the case during the rainy season. Sometimes water even enters cars. The government needs to address this urgently,” he said.
In Ikate, a resident, Victor Obinna, said he sometimes sleeps in his office whenever it rains to avoid the perennial traffic caused by flooding. “I often get soaked trying to get to work, so I end up dressing up in the office,” he explained.
Recent reports have also indicated that property worth millions of naira was destroyed by flooding in the Ikorodu area, further highlighting the scale of the challenge.
Experts estimate that Lagos loses billions of naira annually to flooding through destroyed property, damaged infrastructure, loss of man-hours, and public health risks from stagnant water which often leads to outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has expressed sympathy to residents affected by Wednesday’s incident.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement, noted that Lagos, being a coastal city, is naturally vulnerable to flooding.
He explained that the flooding in Kusenla, Lekki, was due to a technical challenge as the downstream area was higher than the drainage system.
He revealed that a pumping station was already under construction to address the issue.
On flooding around the House on the Rock church axis, Wahab attributed the problem to illegal construction on floodplains and indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels.
He warned that the state would demolish structures and obstructions erected without approval.
“We appeal for cooperation from the public. Avoiding construction on floodplains and keeping drains free of refuse are key to achieving a flood-free Lagos. The flooding observed yesterday was a flash flood that has since receded, but we must all play our part,” Wahab stated.
The commissioner assured that the state government would continue to strengthen its flood management system but stressed that the effort required the support and responsible actions of all residents.