Barely one week after the torrential rainfall that that left no fewer than 15 people dead in different parts of Lagos State and that destroyed property worth millions of Naira, another downpour in the city on Sunday wreaked havoc, leaving most of the roads in the metropolis heavily flooded.
LEADERSHIP checks revealed that the massive flooding caused by the rain caused traffic jams in different parts of the state, as many vehicles found it difficult to navigate the flooded roads.
Some motorists who spoke with our correspondent wondered why the state government had not deployed its officials to de-silt the drainage system, noting that the rain that fell for less than three hours ought not to have caused them such harm and damage.
According to Sam Ekwene who lives in Ikeja,”This issue of heavy rainfall was a foretold occurrence. Meteorologists drummed it into our ears that there would be serious rainfall this year, yet we were not prepared, even though the government told us that they had put facilities in place. The flooding of Sunday, Wednesday and today that caused so many cars to break down has really proved that they have put facilities in place.”
In areas like Agidingbi in Ikeja area of the state, some residents were seen bailing out rainwater from their houses.
Many commuters were stranded at bus stops. Bus drivers were not plying major routes because of the traffic gridlock caused by the flooding.
The Ojodu Berger–Akute road and the bridge linking Lagos and Ogun State at Denro, was submerged in water, rendering the road impassable.
Passengers had no alternative than to load themselves into a mini truck and pay a fare of N150 to Akute, as against the usual N100 to the Lagos/Ogun State suburb.
LEADERSHIP also gathered that most residents of the state, especially those living in Agege, Pencenima Akara area of Alagbado, Ajegunle, Olodi Apapa and Ketu–Ikosi, also battled for hours to prevent the flood water from gaining entrance into their homes.
“We had to perforate the fence in my compound to release the flood that was gathering in my compound to the other side of the road, to avoid a repetition of last week’s incident that destroyed my belongings and that of my tenants,” lamented a landlord in Ikola area of Lagos.