Commuters, motorists stranded as downpour floods Lagos roads

A downpour in the early hours of Thursday, caused widespread flooding in several parts of Lagos State, leaving commuters and motorists stranded.

The floodwaters took over major roads, including the Ojota-Yaba Expressway, Ago Palace Way, Iyana-Oworo, and Egbeda areas.

A resident, Mr Oduche Azih, told PUNCH Metro that the flooding in his Okota area was huge and caused by the total blockage of over one kilometre terminating at the communal effort bridge at Fasheun Drive.

He said, “Today, we had flooding, again, in our street and the entire neighbourhood. I am sure that the sad news from extended distances will start coming in later as the residents get a handle on the devastation.
Today, as in all other similar previous situations, my entire compound was between ankle-deep and knee-deep depending on the location. Floodwater seeped through the walls into my lower-level living room.”

He asked, “Is it possible that the Lagos State Government and its Oshodi/Isolo and Alimosho Local Government counterparts are unaware of this situation?”

In several videos posted on social media platforms, residents expressed frustration and anger at the recurrence of the situation. In some of the videos, pedestrians and vehicles were seen navigating the flooded areas, while some vehicles were seen trapped in the water.
An X user, Lucy Nkem, reacting to the downpour, wrote, “The rain in Lagos was just too heavy. It was really difficult going out today.”

The flooding was also said to have caused traffic congestion, stretching from Alapere to the Third Mainland Bridge.
This was also a similar sight at the Egbeda-Akowonjo Road as vehicles were driving through the flood at a slow pace.

A resident who identified himself simply as Olawale lamented the recurrence of flooding in the area.

He said, “This is not the first time we’re experiencing flooding in this area. The government needs to do something about our drainage system. We can’t continue like this.”

Another resident in the area, Idowu Olabisi, also narrated her experience saying, “It was tiring for me going to the office today. The flood was so terrible, and it did not even rain for up to an hour. How can a city like Lagos be so vulnerable to flooding?”

In another post on X with the name Eldivyn, an area in the Ago Palace Way was seen flooded.
“This is Ago Palace. Someone shared this with me. I’m sure if you’re on the Island, you’re seeing something similar as well. Lagos has a problem, and if we like, we can close our eyes and pretend it doesn’t. Small rain and the entire city turns into a cesspool. Sad way to live,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, PUNCH Metro gathered that some motorists were forced to park their vehicles on major roads as they were unable to drive through the flood due to the volume of water.

“It was like a disaster zone today. Some vehicles were even stuck, while some were perked because of the volume of the water. It could damage their engine if they continue driving in the flood,” a pedestrian who preferred anonymity told our correspondent.

The Lagos State Government had earlier announced the start of construction on the nearly five-kilometre System 44 drainage channel along the Mobil Road, Ogombo, and Ikota, aimed at controlling flooding in the Lekki area ahead of the rainy season.