Residents of Ajah, Mafoluku and other flood-prone communities in Lagos were left stranded on Thursday after a torrential downpour submerged roads, flooded homes and disrupted movement across several parts of the state.
The affected residents blamed the persistent flooding on poor drainage infrastructure and blocked canals, urging the Lagos State Government to take urgent steps to prevent a recurrence.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday, a resident of Muri Okunola Road in Ajah, identified simply as Rukayat, said floodwaters covered about 200 metres of the road, forcing commuters to wade through waist-deep water.
“The water level was almost up to my lap. People literally had to wade through it to get home,” she said.
She added that many motorists were forced to abandon their vehicles or make a U-turn after finding the road impassable.
“The only way to pass through the water was by walking or using a tricycle. Even then, the tricycles broke down and had to be pushed,” she said.
According to her, some youths charged fees to push stranded tricycles through the flooded sections.
Rukayat lamented that residents had repeatedly alerted the authorities to the worsening situation since the onset of the rainy season without any meaningful intervention.
“We reported this when the rains started, but apparently nothing has been done about the problem,” she said.
She attributed the flooding to poor drainage and possible blockage of a major canal in the area by sand deposits and overgrown vegetation, which she said had reduced its capacity to channel stormwater effectively.
Although the floodwaters eventually receded, she noted that parts of the road remained waterlogged hours after the rainfall.
In Mafoluku, residents said several streets and residential areas were inundated, leaving many unable to return to their homes.
A resident of Agboola Street, Mrs Iriagbonse Okunkpolor, recounted how a brief trip to buy household items turned into an hours-long ordeal after heavy rain flooded the neighbourhood.
“I left my house to buy a few items nearby, but the rain started suddenly and flooded the entire street. I was stranded for hours because there was no safe way back home,” she said.
Another resident, Mukaila Idris, described the flood as both dangerous and traumatic, saying the strong current forced many residents to seek help from youths who ferried or carried them across the flooded roads for a fee.
“The current was very strong. I watched people pay young men to carry them across the water because they were afraid of being swept away or falling,” he said.
He added that only physically fit residents could navigate the floodwaters, while others waited for several hours until the water level subsided.
Also speaking, Williams Ekpo, a resident of the Eyinogun area, said the flood extended into residential compounds, damaging household belongings.
“The floodwater entered our compound and damaged some household items. This happens almost every rainy season, yet nothing seems to be done to address the drainage problem,” he lamented.
The residents called on the relevant authorities to investigate the recurring flooding and embark on comprehensive drainage improvements to protect lives, property and critical road infrastructure during the rainy season.
