Heavy rainfall on Thursday paralyzed movement and business activities in many parts of Lagos State after hours of downpour led to flash floods in several communities.
Reporters observed that the flooding caused damage in areas like Maryland, Lekki, Ogba, and Ikorodu.
Residents and business owners lamented how their homes, shops, and streets were overrun by water.
Videos shared on social media also showed residents wading through flooded neighborhoods while motorists struggled to drive slowly on submerged roads.
On Olatunji Street in Maryland, an overflowing canal cut off access to the nearby Mende community.
A resident, Chinasa Nnadi, said flooding had been a recurring problem for many years.
She explained, “This happens whenever it rains. Cars cannot move in or out, and sometimes people swim just to reach their homes. Some even relocate because the water is too much.”
A business owner, Kalu, who had lived in the area for three years, said he was shocked by how quickly the water spread.
“I saw people scooping water out of their homes after it entered their houses. My own shop was also flooded,” he said.
Another resident, Christiana, shared how floodwater damaged her church’s musical instruments.
She said, “When the canal fills up, water enters the church and reaches halfway inside. The damage is always serious, and now we need to repair or replace many instruments.”
The flood also worsened traffic across the state, trapping motorists and pedestrians in gridlock for long hours.
Some vehicles broke down on waterlogged roads, leaving commuters stranded as they waited for buses.
In Ogba, the popular Ogba-Wempco junction was heavily flooded, affecting traffic flow.
A commuter, Tunji Abass, said he spent hours in traffic.
“The vehicles moved very slowly. During the rainy season, it always gets worse, and sometimes water even enters cars. The government needs to act fast,” he said.
Another resident, Victor Obinna, who works in Ikate, explained that he often slept in his office to avoid being stuck in traffic whenever it rained.
“I sometimes walk through floodwater to reach my office. Many times, I arrive soaked and have to change clothes at work,” he said.
Weeks earlier, properties worth millions of naira were destroyed by flooding in Ikorodu, showing how widespread the problem is.
The economic cost of flooding in Lagos runs into billions of naira yearly, with residents losing homes, shops, vehicles, and work hours. It also increases the risk of waterborne diseases.
In response, the Lagos State Government sympathized with affected residents and assured that steps were being taken to address the recurring problem.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said Lagos, as a coastal city, was naturally prone to flooding during heavy rainfall and tidal lock.
He explained that the government was investing in drainage systems, desilting, and enforcing environmental laws to reduce the impact.
Wahab said the flooding in Kusenla, Lekki, was caused by a technical challenge where the downstream was higher than the existing drains. He noted that a project, including a pumping station, had already been awarded to fix it.
He also linked flooding near House on the Rock church to illegal construction on floodplains and the dumping of refuse in drains.
“Clear infractions were observed in some videos. The government will remove illegal structures and obstructions that worsen flooding,” he said.
Wahab appealed to residents to support the government by keeping their environment clean, avoiding dumping refuse into drains, and not building on floodplains.
He added that the floods had receded by the next morning, but lasting solutions required joint efforts between the government and citizens.
“Together, we can build a safer, cleaner, and more resilient Lagos,” Wahab assured.
