SEVERAL communities across Lagos State were left inundated yesterday following a continuous downpour that began on Sunday night and persisted into the evening of the next day.
The unrelenting rainfall triggered severe flooding across the state, submerging roads, homes, and vehicles.
Viral videos captured submerged buildings and cars in Ijede, Ikorodu, while low-lying and flood-prone areas such as Lekki, Eti-Osa, Ajegunle, Agege, Surulere, and Alimosho also experienced heavy flooding.
Overflowing drainage channels and canals forced residents to wade cautiously through waterlogged streets.
The deluge brought trade and daily activities in Nigeria’s commercial hub to a near standstill, with many residents taking to social media to share distress calls.
Vehicular movement was severely restricted as motorists avoided flooded roads to prevent damage to their vehicles.
Elsewhere in Niger State, heavy rains led to flooding in several communities, washing away farmlands in Lapai, Paikoro, and Mokwa Local Government Areas. Just last week, eight communities in Adamawa State were affected by a similar incident.
Reacting to the situation, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, urged residents to remain calm, noting that the government had put resilient infrastructure in place to address flash floods.
He cited a weather advisory from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, which forecasted more heavy rainfall and thunderstorms over the next three days. Wahab explained that certain areas may continue to experience flash flooding due to overwhelmed drainage systems caused by the intense rainfall.
Highlighting Lagos’ vulnerability as a coastal city compounded by climate change, the commissioner appealed to the public not to panic. He also advised parents to supervise their children during the holidays and warned against allowing them to play outdoors in flooded areas.
Wahab further cautioned residents against dumping refuse in drains, emphasizing that such actions block drainage systems and worsen flooding.
He assured the public that the government would step up ongoing year-round clearing and maintenance of drainage channels to mitigate the effects of future downpours.