Residents of Ayobo in Lagos experienced a dire situation when heavy rainfall caused the Marwa Bridge to collapse, leading to flooding in their homes on Tuesday, February 20.
According to The Nation, this incident resulted in individuals, including schoolchildren and commuters, falling into the water.
Prompt action was taken by fellow drivers to rescue those affected by the flood, while emergency services like Fire Services, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and police quickly arrived at the scene to prevent chaos and manage the emerging crisis.
Apart from the bridge collapse, many houses and vehicles in areas like Isale Aboru, Oke Ishagun, Ikola, Makinde Street, Olubodun Majiyagbe-Ajayi, Adeola Street, and Olokowo Street were also submerged, forcing residents to evacuate to avoid drowning.
The flooding was aggravated as the region had previously experienced water inundation from a Sunday rainfall, leaving the land saturated before the subsequent downpour on Tuesday.
The issue stemmed from the Marwa Bridge, originally engineered by Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) to handle water flow from 15 canals but presently inundated by water from more than 60 canals, exceeding its intended capacity by fourfold.
Residents emphasized the necessity for the authorities to upgrade the bridge to manage increased water flow and mitigate flood-related concerns.
The overflow extended to nearby commercial areas, resulting in significant damage to various goods such as caskets, doors, gates, furniture, and bricks. Furthermore, two trucks ended up in nearby drains, causing traffic congestion in the vicinity.
A distressed businessman named Wale Olabanjo lamented the loss of his merchandise and appealed for government support.
Ibrahim Farinloye, the coordinator of NEMA’s Lagos Office, confirmed that 151 houses were affected, fortunately without any casualties.
He advised residents to prepare for the upcoming rainy season by focusing on disaster risk reduction measures, including clearing drainages and adhering to safety protocols against floods.
Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed, Director General of NEMA, endorsed the Lagos State Government’s plan to remove structures obstructing drainage after the 2023 rainy season, calling for collaborative efforts to establish safer living environments.
