Heavy rainfall once again brought parts of Lagos State to a standstill on Tuesday as widespread flooding submerged roads, homes, and shops across several communities. The downpour, which began in the early hours of the day, left residents stranded and property worth millions of naira at risk, particularly in Ikorodu, which has been one of the hardest-hit areas in recent weeks.
From Ago Palace Way in Okota to Akowonjo, Lekki, and Ikorodu, residents lamented the toll the floods had taken. Viral videos showed streets like Alhaji Idowu in Akowonjo overtaken by water within just three hours of rainfall. “This is just three hours of rain, and everywhere is flooded. When it is not as if the people living here are not humans. This is just too bad,” one resident lamented.
In Okota, traffic crawled as vehicles struggled to wade through the submerged Ago Palace Way, while in Osapa London, Lekki, roads linking several estates were cut off by floodwaters. A resident, Mustapha, explained that he had been forced to remain indoors all day. “There were some points in the flood where the water would almost flow into your vehicle, and I couldn’t take that risk. Even Uber drivers don’t want to come here anymore because of the damage to their cars,” he said.
The situation was no better for commuters in Agege and Ogba, where gridlock worsened after vehicles broke down along waterlogged stretches of Wempco Road. Pedestrians were left stranded as motorists were forced to halt in deeply flooded portions. “The T-junction by the Mobil filling station was heavily flooded as some vehicles did not move at all. They had to wait for some time for the water to reduce, except for SUVs and commercial buses. This caused a lot of traffic and even made me resume late to the office,” recounted Mojisola Ajisafe, a pedestrian.
In Ikorodu, another resident sent in video evidence of the nightmare faced by locals as floodwater covered large portions of the community. Commercial drivers plying the Egbeda-Idimu route were also left frustrated. One driver, Saheed, said the flooding in the area had become unbearable. “This is not the first time we are complaining about flooding in this area. It is already getting out of hand. The government needs to find a permanent solution,” he said.
Earlier in August, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunboh Wahab, had acknowledged Lagos’ vulnerability as a coastal city. He noted that heavy rains could temporarily overwhelm the state’s drainage channels, especially during tidal lock-ups when rising lagoon levels prevent water from flowing out. “This is further worsened by climate change. We are closely monitoring areas near rivers and lagoons, which are at higher risk of flash floods with strong currents,” Wahab stated.
As at the time of this report, the ministry’s spokesperson, Adekunle Adeshina, had yet to respond to calls and messages regarding the latest flooding. For now, residents and motorists across Lagos are left grappling with the recurring nightmare of flash floods that paralyze daily life and raise fresh questions about the state’s long-term flood management strategies.
