- Floods, gridlock overtake metropolis, schools, homes sacked
- Miscreants charge passersby N200 to use makeshift bridge
- Seven rescued as two-storey building collapses
- Government urges those in low-lying areas to relocate to higher grounds
Many Lagos residents and motorists were trapped on Wednesday in floods caused by torrential rainfall that kept many people indoors in the state for the better part of the day.
They lamented the persistent heavy downpours that caused floods and gridlock in many parts of the state.
The downpour which began around 3 a.m. left many residents stranded in their homes and rendered the streets impassable.
Some workers expressed frustration that the downpour caused a hike in transportation fares despite the economic hardship.
One of the commuters, Oluwaseun Olatunbosun, a resident of Alimosho who works at Fibernet in the Ikeja area, said transportation fares always increase when it rains.
“If there is no rain, I spend about N1, 000 from my house around Orisunbare to Ikeja where my office is, but I spend well over N1, 000 during the rainy season.
“As it is now, the traffic is heavy, and I am sure there will be an increase in the fare as I go to the office,” he said.
Another resident, Miss Favour Blessing, who lives in Ilepo in Abule Egba and works in Ikeja, said the flat fare to her office usually ranges between N600 and N800 if there is no rain.
“Right now, with the rain, the fare could be between N1, 000 and N1, 400.
“It is worrisome because of the economic situation in the country. Sometimes I don’t even go to work because of the hike in fare when it rains,” she said.
Mrs. Juliet Okonkwo, a school teacher, decried the situation, adding that most of her students come to school late during the rainy season.
“We have to make our way to work even with the gridlock because we have a responsibility to the kids,” she said.
Schools in White Sand Estate, Isheri-Osun in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, have closed their doors, advising students to stay at home as heavy rains and subsequent flooding have disrupted activities.
White Sand Estate is one of the hardest-hit locations in Lagos, frequently experiencing severe flooding.
Wednesday’s downpour rendered homes flooded, with water reaching mid-level heights inside residences.
The severe flooding left many residents trapped, unable to even sit down as their living spaces were submerged.
In response to the flooding, a school located in the area (name withheld), sent messages to pupils, advising them to stay at home due to the hazardous conditions of the roads and the school.
The message read, “Good morning dearest parents. Trust your night was splendid. Due to the downpour and a predicted serious rainy weather forecast today, we have decided to close the school and postpone today’s exam. As you can see, almost everywhere is flooded.
“As a school, we prioritise the safety of our geniuses above everything else. Consequently, the school bus will also not operate today. We are extremely sorry for all the inconvenience.”
Journalists who visited the area, observed that the streets were flooded, making it impossible for cars and motorcycles to navigate.
Pedestrians also faced significant risks as the flooding obscured drainage channels.
The Public Relations Officer of the area CDC, Johnson Olabode, expressed his frustration, in an interview, saying, “We are at it again this year. Everywhere is filled with water. I have been up since 3am when the rain started, and all I could do was watch my house get flooded. We can’t even start removing the water until the rain stops.”
Olabode added that schools have notified parents to keep their children at home due to the severe conditions.
Another resident, who simply identified herself as Atinuke, lamented as water flooded her living room.
“The rain has entered my house again. Just look at the environment. This is Whitesand Estate in Isheri-Osun,” she lamented.
The flooding in White Sand Estate is a recurring issue, with the area suffering from poor roads, inadequate drainage systems, and lack of maintenance.
Residents have called on the Lagos State Government to urgently address the problem.
Another resident, John Adewale, added that the flooding had become a yearly nightmare for them.
Adewale said, “This has become a yearly nightmare for us. Every time it rains heavily, we know our homes will be flooded.
“We’ve been pleading with the government for better drainage systems, but nothing seems to be done. We’re stuck inside with water everywhere.”
Many areas such as Iyana-Oworo, Oshodi, and Lagos Island were similarly affected, with activities brought to a standstill.
The Iyana-Oworo, Olopomeji areas leading to the 3rd Mainland Bridge was completely flooded, causing heavy traffic that extends to Alapere.
Many who defied the rain and left their homes with the hope of getting to their places of work were seen stranded at different bus-stops while trying to commute in the city.
Motorists spent hours on the road coming through Alapere to Third Mainland Bridge.
The downpour caused a tree to fall around Airport U-turn in Oshodi and personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency were at hand to clear the fallen tree from the road to facilitate traffic flow and ensure public safety.
Their prompt intervention enabled the restoration of vehicular movement, mitigating potential congestion and hazards in the area.
Seven rescued as two-storey building collapses
Seven persons were rescued in a two-storey building that collapsed at 12 Cameroun Street off Ewenla in the Mushin area of Lagos State on Wednesday.
A statement by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said upon arrival of its rescue team at the scene of the incident, it was discovered that the said building was newly constructed.
According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the seven rescued persons, consisting of three females and four males, were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The agency also said its rescue team had searched the rubble, confirming that there was no victim underneath the collapsed building.
It added that the area had been cordoned off and that operations were still ongoing in the area.
Miscreants charge passersby N200 to use makeshift bridge
In the aftermath of Wednesday’s heavy rainfall which left parts of Lagos underwater, an individual was spotted charging N200 to carry people through the water.
In a video shared by #omonna1 on X.com on Wednesday, the man was heard charging N200 to carry people through the floodwaters in the Ojo area of the state.
The video captured a voice saying “N200 per person” as people are seen wading through the water.
Meanwhile, some miscreants were arrested on Wednesday by officials of the Lagos State Government for allegedly charging residents N200 to access a makeshift bridge along the Lagos-Badagry expressway.
The incident occurred at the Tradefair under bridge following the flood which submerged a major part of Lagos.
A 54-second clip showed how some hoodlums were extorting residents before they could access an alternate route at the Tradefair under bridge.
Some residents also blamed the development on the ongoing construction company along Lagos Badagry expressway.
“This is Tradefair under the bridge; pay N100 before you can take the passage. And we have a President in this country. Look at their faces,” a woman’s voice in the clip said.
The Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, said the miscreants had been arrested by the operatives of Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps.
Wahab on his X handle said the suspects would be duly prosecuted.
“Following a complaint made by @ARISE0214, miscreants charging people for using the makeshift crossover bridge at Tradefair this morning (Wednesday) have been arrested by the operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps @LAGESCOfficial.
“They will be prosecuted according to the law,” he posted.
Government urges those in low-lying areas to relocate to higher grounds
However, the Lagos State Government has called for calm from residents over the flash flood caused by the incessant rainfalls experienced throughout the state in the early hours of Wednesday.
In a statement on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, explained that Lagos has experienced about nine hours of non-stop rainfall since the early hours of the day.
He added that this was coupled with heavy rainfall which the state has been experiencing on a daily basis since last week, resulting in the level rise of the Lagos lagoon.
Wahab explained that the flash floods which inundated areas like Iyana Oworo linking the Third Mainland and several other areas will recede once the rains abate and the level of the lagoon goes down.
The Commissioner added that the state has also deployed officials of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang to major black spots including Iyana Oworo which has been cleared of all blockages.
He urged all those in low-lying areas to as a matter of necessity relocate to higher grounds at this period to safeguard lives and properties.
He also urged residents to desist from driving through floods with their vehicles as it takes only a foot of flowing water with high tide to sweep away a vehicle irrespective of the number of occupants.
The Commissioner also advised the residents to avail themselves of daily weather reports issued by the State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources as it serves as a guide to daily itinerary.
He noted that Lagos is a coastal city with almost one-third of its landmass underwater, necessitating a genuine reason for every resident to be more responsive to the state of the environment.
Wahab reiterated that the state government on its part has embarked upon a yearlong maintenance and cleaning of all its secondary and primary collectors to be able to contain runoffs that may come from heavy rainfalls.
He added that 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.