Hours of heavy downpour on Wednesday brought parts of Lagos State to a standstill, leaving roads submerged, homes flooded, and businesses counting their losses.
The flash floods affected several communities, including Maryland, Lekki, Ogba, and Ikorodu, causing massive traffic gridlock and disrupting normal commercial activities.
Videos circulating on social media showed residents wading through waist-deep water while motorists struggled to navigate waterlogged roads. In some cases, vehicles broke down in the floods, worsening congestion and leaving commuters stranded for hours.
On Olatunji Street in Maryland, a swollen canal cut off access to the Mende community. Resident Chinasa Nnadi said flooding had become a routine nightmare in the area.
“This has been happening for years now, and it’s very hard for vehicles to go in or out of here. People even swim to their houses,” Nnadi said, lamenting that many families were forced to relocate whenever floods became unbearable.
Business owners also suffered heavy losses. A shop owner identified as Kalu said he watched helplessly as water flowed into homes and shops on his street.
“I suffered the same fate as others. The water flowed into my shop and damaged some of my goods,” he said.
Places of worship were not spared. Christiana, a member of a local church, said floodwater damaged their musical instruments. “When the canal is full, the water enters our church and rises to half the building, causing extreme damage,” she said.
In Ogba, the popular Wempco junction was completely flooded, leaving commuters stuck for hours. Tunji Abass, who was caught in the traffic, described the experience as frustrating.
“Vehicles were moving very slowly. This happens every rainy season and sometimes water even enters cars,” he said, calling on the government to act fast.
For some residents, the situation has become so bad that they now make drastic lifestyle changes to cope. Victor Obinna, who works in the Ikate area, said he often sleeps in the office to avoid being trapped in gridlock when it rains.
The economic cost of Lagos flooding is estimated in billions of naira annually, with losses ranging from damaged property to man-hours wasted in traffic. Public health risks also rise, as stagnant floodwaters often trigger outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
Reacting to the incident, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, sympathised with affected residents and assured that the state government is stepping up efforts to reduce flooding.
“Lagos is a coastal city and will always be vulnerable to flooding during heavy rainfall and tidal lock,” Wahab said in a statement. “However, we continue to invest in drainage infrastructure, desilting, and enforcement of environmental laws to minimise the impact.”
Wahab revealed that flooding in the Kusenla area of Lekki was caused by a technical issue, with a project already awarded to construct a pumping station to address the challenge. He added that flooding near House on the Rock church was worsened by illegal construction on floodplains and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
“Clear infractions were observed in some of the videos shared. The state government will ensure illegal structures, obstructions, and reclamation carried out without approvals are promptly removed,” he said.
Wahab appealed for public cooperation, urging Lagosians to stop dumping refuse in drains and avoid building on floodplains. He added that most of Wednesday’s flooding had receded by Thursday morning, and the government remained committed to building a “safer, cleaner, and more resilient Lagos.”
