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Torrential rainfall in Lagos has led to the submersion of property and roads in the city, bringing normal commercial activities to a halt. The downpour, which started on Sunday and reached its peak on Tuesday, has left motorists and commuters stranded across the metropolis. The flooding has also forced parents to prevent their children from going to school due to the severity of the downpour and possible risks.

The areas most heavily affected by the flooding include Lagos-Oshodi Expressway, Abeokuta Expressway, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Victoria Island, Agege, Ikeja, Oworonsoki, Gbagada, Funsho Williams Avenue, Iwaya area of Yaba, Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, and other coastal areas. Residents have been seen bailing out storm water from their homes to stay safe, while motorists have been stranded along major roads.

The downpour, which lasted over 12 hours, has also caused gridlocks across highways and residents have been trapped at home. Ikorodu Road, Yaba, Ikeja, and Oyingbo were among the worst-hit areas, with floodwaters covering major roads and forcing motorists to abandon vehicles or seek alternative routes.

Pedestrians have been seen wading through knee-deep water in an effort to reach their workplaces, schools, and other destinations. Motorists along Ikorodu Road corridor have been trapped in hours-long gridlock as floodwaters rendered portions of the highway almost impassable. Commercial activities in Yaba and Oyingbo have been affected, with many shops opening late while several residents remained indoors due to the flooding.

In Ikeja, several roads became inaccessible, forcing commercial bus operators to suspend operations on some routes while others charged higher fares to navigate flooded roads. Many residents have expressed frustration over the recurring floods despite ongoing drainage and road rehabilitation projects across the state. At the time of filing this report, no casualties had been officially reported.

Speaking with Vanguard, a Yaba resident, Mr. Wasiu, lamented the hardship caused by the flooding, describing it as a recurring challenge that continues to disrupt daily life. 'Many roads have been flooded, making it extremely difficult for people to get to work. Some parents were also afraid to allow their children go to school because many drainage channels are blocked and overflowing,' he said.

A primary school teacher, Mr. Ade Bambo, also spoke about the impact of the flood on schools. 'I had to make my way to school, but most of my pupils could not come because of the flood. Whenever there is heavy rainfall, attendance drops significantly because parents fear for the safety of their children,' he said.

He called on the Lagos State government to intensify efforts to clear blocked drainage systems and accelerate ongoing flood control projects to prevent a recurrence as the rainy season intensifies. The downpour, which later subsided around 2 pm, has left residents worried about the state of the city's drainage system.

'We have been warning the state government about the dangers of flooding in this area, but they have not taken our warnings seriously,' a resident of Ago Palace Way said. The flooding has also affected business operations, with many offices and stalls seen under lock and key.

The Lagos State government has not yet made any official statement on the matter. Efforts to reach the state's commissioner for environmental affairs for comment were unsuccessful.

Areas Affected by the Flooding

  • Lagos-Oshodi Expressway
  • Abeokuta Expressway
  • Lekki-Epe Expressway
  • Victoria Island
  • Agege
  • Ikeja
  • Oworonsoki
  • Gbagada
  • Funsho Williams Avenue
  • Iwaya area of Yaba
  • Lagos Mainland Local Government Area
  • Many shops were forced to close due to the flooding
  • Commercial activities were severely disrupted
  • Some businesses were forced to suspend operations

The flooding has caused widespread disruption to businesses and daily life in Lagos, highlighting the need for the state government to take proactive measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.