Flood Don Overflow for Lagos Communities, Motorists Block

Vehicular and business activities stop for many parts of Lagos State on Wednesday after heavy rain wey last long cause flash flood for plenty communities for the state. The rain cause problem for flood-prone areas like Maryland, Lekki, Ogba, and Ikorodu. People wey live for the areas and business owners complain say flood don enter their houses and shops. Many videos wey our correspondents see for social media show people dey waka through flood inside their areas, while motorists dey move slow-slow for flooded roads. For Olatunji Street, Maryland, canal overflow block road wey connect Mende community. One resident, Chinasa Nnadi, talk say flood don dey happen like this every time rain fall for years. She talk say, “This one don dey happen for years. E hard for motor to waka enter or comot. People even dey swim enter their houses. E no easy for people for that place to comot because flood high. Some people don even relocate because of am.” One business owner wey call himself Kalu talk say he shock how flood quick spread. He talk say, “I watch as people dey try scoop water from their houses after flood enter. Water enter my shop too.” One church member, Christiana, talk say flood spoil some musical instruments for their church. She say, “Flood spoil our church musical instruments. We go spend plenty money to fix or replace. When canal full, water dey enter church reach half building, e dey cause big problem.” Flood also make life hard for motorists and people wey dey waka as traffic jam happen for many flooded roads. For some places, vehicles breakdown for waterlogged roads, make commuters wait long for buses. Ogba-Wempco junction flooded as usual during rain, block vehicles movement. One commuter, Tunji Abass, complain say flood make traffic long. He say, “Vehicles dey move slow because road dey flooded. Rainy season dey always like this. E worse when water enter vehicles. Government suppose solve am quick.”

One resident, Victor Obinna wey work for Ikate, talk say he dey sleep for office when rain fall because traffic jam too much. He talk say road to him office dey flooded and he must waka through water to reach work. He say, “I stay for office whole week. When I no stay, I dey waka through flood to work. Sometimes I must change clothes for office because half my body go dey wet.” Weeks ago, property worth millions of naira spoil for Ikorodu. One video wey correspondent see show how some roads for the community flooded. Flood cost Lagos billions every year as people lose houses, shops, vehicles, and time for traffic. Public health dey risk as stagnant floodwater fit cause waterborne diseases. Lagos State Government sympathize with people wey flood affect and assure say dem dey try solve the problem. Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, talk say Lagos as coastal city dey vulnerable to flood especially during heavy rain and tidal lock. He talk say government dey invest for drainage, desilting, and enforcing environmental laws to reduce flooding. Wahab explain say flood for Kusenla Lekki happen because downstream higher than drainage system. Government don award project to build pumping station to fix am. He talk say flood near House on the Rock church happen because of illegal building on floodplains and dumping refuse inside drains. He warn say government go remove illegal structures and refuse blocking drainage. Wahab appeal to people to keep environment clean, no dump refuse for drains, and no build on floodplains to make Lagos flood-free. He add say flood na flash flood and e don reduce since morning. Ministry dey committed to improve flood management but need support from all Lagosians to build safer, cleaner, and better Lagos.