Lagos residents stranded by floods submerging streets and homes in Ajah, Mafoluku

Residents of Ajah, Mafoluku and other flood-prone communities in Lagos remained stranded on Thursday after a torrential downpour submerged roads, flooded homes and disrupted movement in several parts of the state.

Affected residents have blamed the persistent flooding on poor drainage infrastructure and blocked canals, urging the Lagos state government to take urgent measures to prevent a recurrence.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday, a resident of Muri Okunola Road in Ajah, identified simply as Rukayat, said floodwaters covered about 200 meters of the road, forcing commuters to wade through waist-deep water.

“The water level was almost up to my knees. People literally had to walk through it to get home,” he said.

He added that many motorists were forced to abandon their vehicles or make a U-turn after finding the road impassable.

“The only way to get through the water was to walk or use a tricycle. Even then, the tricycles broke down and had to be pushed,” he said.

According to her, some youths were demanding a fee to push stranded tricycles through the flooded sections.

Rukayat complained that residents had repeatedly alerted authorities to the worsening situation since the start of the rainy season without any significant intervention.

“We reported this when the rains started, but apparently nothing was done to resolve the problem,” he said.

It attributed the flooding to poor drainage and the possible blockage of a major canal in the area due to sand deposits and overgrowth, which it said had reduced its ability to effectively channel rainwater.

Although the waters eventually receded, he noted that parts of the road remained wet hours after the rain.

In Mafoluku, residents said several streets and residential areas were flooded, leaving many unable to return to their homes.

A resident of Agboola Street, Mrs Iriagbonse Okunkpolor, has narrated how a short trip to buy household items turned into an hours-long ordeal after heavy rain inundated the neighbourhood.

“I left my house to buy some items nearby, but the rain suddenly started and flooded the entire street. I was stranded for hours as there was no safe way to get home,” she said.

Another resident, Mukaila Idris, described the flooding as dangerous and traumatic, saying the strong current forced many residents to ask for help from youths who ferried or carried them across the flooded toll roads.

“The current was very strong. I saw people paying young people 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 flood waters, while others waited several hours until the water levels subsided.

Also, Williams Ekpo, a resident of Eyinogun area, said the flood had spread to residential compounds, damaging domestic properties.

“The flood water entered our compound and damaged some household items. This happens almost every rainy season, but nothing seems to have been done to solve the drainage problem,” he lamented.

Residents have called on relevant authorities to investigate recurring flooding and undertake comprehensive drainage improvements to protect lives, property and critical road infrastructure during the rainy season.

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