By Cynthia Johnson
On Sunday, Lagos State experienced severe disruptions as heavy rainfall submerged key roads, affecting areas such as Egbeda, Idimu, Isheri-Oshun, and Akowonjo in the Alimosho Local Government Area.
Motorists navigated through floodwaters on the Egbeda-Idimu and Idimu-Ikotun roads, with some resorting to driving against traffic.
Concerned residents, including motorist Kunle Salau, voiced frustration over recurrent flooding while speaking with newsmen, urging the government to address the issue promptly.
“This is the pain we go through whenever it rains in this area. The volume of the water often makes the road impassable for us, and whenever I try to drive through the flood, the water enters my vehicle. It is getting worse. I almost had a collision with an oncoming vehicle that was driving against traffic when the rain was falling. It was when I drove past him that I discovered that he was avoiding the flood,” he said.
Quest Times also gathered that stagnant floodwater caused traffic gridlock, leading to breakdowns and damages to roads, according to another motorist identified as Steve.
“The distance from the church to my home is just about a minute’s drive, but I have spent a longer time on the road because of the traffic caused by the flood. This same road has gradually been damaged over the years because of this floodwater. Once it dries up, you will start to see some potholes. The government should come to our rescue. It should not be allowed to get to the level where there will be a loss of lives,” Steve said.
In addition to road disruptions, stranded commuters faced difficulties finding available buses, and those in operation raised fares due to the challenging conditions. Some commuters were left stranded at bus stops as a result.
Responding to the situation, Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, highlighted ongoing efforts to address drainage issues in the state.
“The state government is working on the drains, and part of it is the houses that are built on the drainage channels so that the water can have spaces to flow.”
He also emphasized the need for cooperation from residents in preventing indiscriminate dumping of refuse, acknowledging that clearing drainage channels and managing housing on these channels are part of the government’s strategy to mitigate flooding.