Health
Floodwaters submerge homes, disrupt power supply in Lagos
Our Reporters
Floodwaters swept through several communities in Lagos State on Tuesday following hours of heavy rainfall, submerging homes and roads, disrupting movement and knocking out electricity in parts of the state after critical transmission facilities were affected.
Videos obtained by PUNCH Metro showed flooded streets in FESTAC, Gbagada, Evans, Olushi, Anikantamo and Adeniji Adele on the Lagos Island, with residents wading through waterlogged roads and motorists struggling to navigate submerged streets.
Correspondents who monitored the situation in Ikeja observed that floodwaters entered several homes and shops, forcing some residents to temporarily relocate over fears of worsening conditions.
The flooding, worsened by blocked drains filled with plastic waste and inadequate drainage infrastructure, left many roads submerged in knee-deep water.
A resident of Ikeja, Abidemi Raji, blamed the flooding on the poor road design and blocked drainage channels.
“The way the road was constructed contributes to the flooding. Although there is a drainage channel, it usually takes between 30 minutes and one hour after the rain stops before the water recedes because of the volume of water,” he said.
Raji alleged that a drainage channel linking the area to another street had been blocked after a hotel was built.
“There is supposed to be a channel connecting this compound to the next street, but the back passage was blocked after the hotel was built. That has worsened the flooding,” he added.
The downpour also submerged several streets in the Festac area of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, disrupting movement and leaving residents and motorists stranded.
A video shared by Lagos Reporters on X showed floodwaters covering major roads and inner streets, forcing pedestrians to wade through water while motorists struggled to move.
A resident, Okeke Mmesoma, described the flooding as a recurring challenge.
“Anytime it rains heavily, this place gets flooded. It is usually after the rain stops that the water begins to clear. My shoes were soaked this morning on my way to work,” she said.
She added that many motorists avoided the flooded roads to prevent their vehicles from breaking down, while commuters stayed away to avoid getting drenched.
Flooding was also reported in Ajah, while roads around Adeniji Adele, Evans, Olushi and Anikantamo on Lagos Island were inundated.
The heavy rainfall also caused electricity outages after floodwaters damaged facilities at the Oworo 132/33kV Transmission Station.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, Ikeja Electric said severe flooding at the station affected two power transformers and several 33kV feeders.
The affected feeders include Oworo Injection Substations 1 and 2, serving Ladilak, Bariga, Araromi, Oworo, Pedro, GTB, Alapere, Agboyi, Araba, Hospital and Gbagada.
The electricity distribution company said it was working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria to restore supply as soon as the damaged facilities were returned to service.
The flooding also affected neighbouring Ogun State, where residents of Gloryland Estate in Ibafo appealed to the state government to urgently intervene.
Residents said the flooding had damaged buildings, disrupted movement and forced some families to temporarily vacate their homes during the rainy season.
A member of the Community Development Association, Oladipupo Awoyemi, blamed the flooding on blocked drainage channels linked to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“Whenever it rains continuously for two or three days, the whole community becomes flooded. We have reported the blocked drainage channels several times, but the problem remains unresolved,” he said.
Awoyemi added that indiscriminate construction and refuse dumping had further obstructed waterways.
“Years ago, the flooding was not this severe because water flowed freely. Today, many canals have been blocked by buildings and factories, while refuse dumped into the drains has made the situation worse,” he said.
According to him, the annual flooding has damaged buildings, disrupted economic activities and exposed residents to health risks.
“It affects everybody. People cannot use the roads freely, vehicles are forced to take longer routes, and some residents have to leave their homes whenever the flooding becomes severe,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the dredging of 28 additional primary drainage channels to improve flood control across the state.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kunle Adeshina.
Wahab described Tuesday’s downpour as an extreme weather event that overwhelmed drainage infrastructure, resulting in temporary flooding in Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikeja, Gbagada, Mushin, Mafoluku and several other communities.
He explained that Lagos’ unique coastal geography, with its network of lagoons, rivers and tidal water bodies, naturally slows the discharge of stormwater into the sea during high tide, making temporary flooding inevitable after exceptionally heavy rainfall.
The commissioner assured residents that the government was closely monitoring drainage infrastructure and flood-prone locations while emergency response agencies remained on the ground to support affected communities.
He also urged residents to stop dumping refuse into drainage channels, desist from illegal reclamation of wetlands and avoid building on drainage alignments, warning that such practices worsen flooding.
Wahab advised motorists to avoid driving through flooded roads during heavy rainfall and urged residents, particularly those in flood-prone areas, to comply with weather advisories and safety guidelines issued by relevant authorities.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]