LAGOS — Chaos and widespread distress prevailed in Lagos yesterday. The city was paralyzed by heavy morning rains that caused severe flooding in numerous neighborhoods, trapping motorists on major roads, including the usually congested Third Mainland Bridge.
Many residents blamed the state government for not enforcing environmental protection laws and for failing to prosecute those responsible for blocking drainage channels with refuse, leading to flooding during rainstorms. Environmental expert and EnvironNews publisher, Mr. Michael Simire, commented on the issue, noting that nine hours of torrential rainfall would inevitably cause problems in a city like Lagos, which has a significant portion of land below sea level and many swampy areas now developed into residential zones. He emphasized the need for the government to maintain and clear both secondary and primary drainage channels to manage heavy rain run-off.
Echoing similar concerns, town planner Mr. Ayo Adejumo criticized the lack of proper urban planning, attributing the recurrent flooding to unimplemented development plans that address environmental issues and provide mitigation measures. He also highlighted the absence of designated dump sites, which forces residents to dispose of waste in drainage channels, and inadequate control over physical development, which allows construction that blocks water pathways.
Several Lagos residents voiced their frustration with the poor drainage system, particularly in areas like Oworonshoki, Oshodi, and Alimosho, calling for government intervention. In Lekki, one of the hardest-hit areas, residents reported being unable to leave their homes due to severe flooding.
A Lagos State official vowed to identify and prosecute the offenders in response to a viral video showing residents dumping refuse in drainage channels. In Ijesha, the government sealed an apartment building after residents were caught throwing trash into the street. The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the action.
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had predicted thunderstorms and rain from Wednesday to Friday, and the prolonged rain led to extensive flooding, with residents bailing out water and commuters stranded at bus stops. Motorists faced vehicle breakdowns on flooded highways, and the rainstorm caused trees to fall and roofs to blow off in some areas.
As a precaution, some parents kept their children from attending school, resulting in low turnout at public and private institutions. Areas most affected by the flooding included Ikeja, Agege, Ikorodu Road, Oworonshoki, Egbeda, Oshodi, Funsho Williams, Lekki, Ajah, and Obalende.
In some flood-hit areas, hoodlums exploited the situation by charging pedestrians for passage over makeshift structures, leading to altercations when people refused to pay.
Residents expressed their anger over the recurrent flooding. Bode Alayande from Ojodu criticized the government for its inaction, while businessman Kayode Abolore recounted his harrowing experience of being stranded due to blocked drainage channels.
The Lagos State Government urged calm, explaining that the city experienced nine hours of continuous rainfall, which raised the Lagos lagoon's water levels. Wahab stated that the government was engaged in year-long maintenance of drainage channels to handle heavy rainfalls and called on residents to maintain tertiary drains and avoid dumping refuse in them.
NiMet's forecast for continued thunderstorms and rain across the country was reiterated, advising the public to take necessary precautions against potential flooding and urging airline operators to consult updated weather reports for effective planning.
Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/07/aftermath-of-heavy-rain-chaos-lamentations-as-flood-grounds-lagos/