According to Vanguard, chaos and lamentation swept across Lagos yesterday as early morning rains led to severe flooding, paralyzing activities in many parts of the state. Motorists found themselves trapped along major roads, including the usually bustling Third Mainland Bridge.
Many residents blamed the state government for failing to enforce environmental protection laws and for not prosecuting individuals who dump refuse in drainage channels, leading to blockages and flooding whenever it rains.
Michael Simire, an environmental expert and publisher of EnvironNews, a publication on environmental issues, commented on the situation: “About nine hours of torrential rainfall is a lot of water that is bound to cause some sort of havoc in a city like Lagos that has a considerable landmass below sea level and numerous swampy areas that have all become built-up residential areas.
"The poor drainage network is worsened by the habit of dumping refuse in drainage channels, which become blocked and lead to flooded neighborhoods. Additionally, many structures in Lagos are built along drainage channels.
"Government should endeavor to clear and maintain the secondary and primary drainage channels so that they can accommodate run-offs from heavy rains like this one.”