•Lagos calls for calm, assures of immediate abatement
It was a traumatic moment for many residents and motorists in several parts of Lagos and neighbouring Ogun State yesterday, following about eight hours of intense rain.
The downpour resulted in floods that overran major roads and caused gridlocks in most parts of the state. Also, floodwater swept away a Primary Six pupil simply identified as Joshua, on Taiwo Street, Ikosi, in the Ketu area of the state.
Joshua’s mother, who sells fruit, said her son was scheduled to write his common entrance examination into secondary school. An eyewitness said the victim and his schoolmates fell into a drainage because the plank used to bridge the canal was completely submerged.
Commuters and motorists were left stranded at various parts of the state due to the gridlock caused by flooding. Viral videos of flooding on some major roads in the state showed workers who became stranded on the way to their offices.
The Guardian learnt that Oshodi Under Bridge, Toyota bus stop along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, the entire Iyana-Oworoshoki and Olopo Meji area, down to the Third Mainland bridge were flooded, making it impossible for drivers to pass through to their destinations.
The flooded roads, at the time of filing this report, had caused a long traffic gridlock that extended to the Alapere region of the state.
Similarly, movement came to an abrupt halt in some Ogun State communities like Ijere-Worogundu, Pakuro, Ibafo and Mowe. Many pupils could not go to school as a result of flooded roads. The Long Bridge, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway was equally flooded.
Also, streets in the Lafenwa area of Ogun State were flooded, forcing residents to wade through to access their houses. The problem was compounded by lack of drainage and negligence on the part of the government.
Lamenting, the chairman, Community Development Association (CDA) of Progressive Elites in Lafenwa, Ayodele Olumide, called on government to construct good drainage systems in the area to avert impending doom
A trapped pedestrian at Iyana-Oworo bus stop, Lagos, Akeem Aremu, lamented that despite government’s efforts in constructing drainages and advising to people not to dump refuse in them, flooding is almost certain during heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, Lagos State government has urged residents to be calm. Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement, explained that the flash floods, which inundated areas like Iyana Oworo linking the Third Mainland Bridge and several other areas would recede once the rains abated and water level at the lagoon goes down.
According to him, the state had deployed officials of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG) to major black spots, including Iyana Oworo. He urged people in low lying areas to relocate to higher grounds during the rain season to safeguard life and property.
The commissioner also urged residents to desist from wading through floods with their vehicles, saying it takes only a foot of flowing water with high tide to sweep away a vehicle, irrespective of the number of occupants.
He reminded residents that Lagos is a coastal city with almost one-third of its landmass under water, adding that this necessitates a genuine reason for every resident to be more responsive to the state of the environment.
