The torrential rainfall witnessed in parts of Lagos State on Thursday left many roads, houses and shops flooded.
The situation caused gridlock that left many motorists and commuters stranded for hours on major roads in the metropolis.
While the rain which started at about midday in some parts of the metropolis was still falling, the National Emergency Management Agency quickly issued an advisory cautioning residents, motorists, teachers and school proprietors, among others, on the need to exercise restraint during and after the downpour.
Roads both on the Island and Mainland sides of the state were flooded during the rainfall.
In the Mainland, roads were flooded in the Ikeja, Ogba, Agege, Abule-Egba, Iyana-Ipaja, Meiran and Egbeda-Idimu areas of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that while traffic on some of the roads was standstill during the downpour, some others witnessed slow movement as motorists struggle to wade through the flood.
An eyewitness who simply identified himself as John said motorists had a hectic time navigating through the bad portion of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway because of the flood.
“It was a standstill situation around Alakuko because of the bad spots on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
“Since flood had covered all the potholes on the road, motorists had to be cautious in order not to be stranded inside the flood,” John said.
In the Egbeda-Idimu area, the downpour which lasted for close to an hour saw the stretch of the road from Baba Oba Bus Stop to Abule Odu submerged.
The situation resulted in gridlock as motorists had difficulties navigating the axis.
Many vehicles also broke down in the flood.
The gridlock caused by the flood extended towards the Ikotun and Igando Roads.
Motorists plying the route were seen moving slowly on the lane close to the median while they stayed away from the service lane to avoid plunging into the drainage.
For the same reason, commuters were unable to move around even after the rain had stopped. Most of them were seen hanging around while waiting for the flood to reduce.
Some of the residents who spoke with PUNCH Metro complained about the recurrence of floods in the area during the rainy season.
One of them who gave his name as Niyi Akomolafe said, “We are sick and tired of this flood. This has been the case for years in this area and it is like the government care less about it.
“Anytime I plan to go out and it rains, I become worried because that means I would have to spend more time on the road because of the traffic the flood causes.”
Another resident, Temilola Ajayi, said, “The government should make sure the process of clearing the drainages is well monitored. Most of the dirt being pulled out from the drainages is often left beside it and in a matter of days, they make their way back into it.”
Some commuters were seen helping one another to navigate the flooded road to avoid falling into the drainage.
A motorist, Adebayo Tunde, said, “There was water everywhere on the road as a result of the rain. Some vehicles broke down while for some of us who are familiar with the road, we managed to navigate our way through.”
The situation was the same on Akowonjo Road with Micom Bus-Stop and Vulcanizer towards Kwara Bus Stop flooded.
A motorist, who gave his name simply as Don lamented over how water finds its way into people’s vehicles when it rains.
“The flood on this road is the worst. Whenever it rains and you are not careful while driving here, water would rush into your car. It has happened to me. The whole of my car was messed up,” he said.
A commuter, who experienced the flood at Meiran, Olorunisola Peter, said he had to wade through.
“This is like a norm here in the Salolo area in Meiran. I had no option but to wade through the flood caused by the rain. The water level was up to my knees. We need to solve this flooding issue,” he said.
The Lagos Coordinator of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, in a statement on Thursday, urged school proprietors and teachers to keep pupils under their custody for 30 minutes after rainfall for the flash flood to subside.
He said after the flash flood had subsided, it becomes safe for the pupils to ply various roads to navigate their way home.
Farinloye said, “Residents of Lagos State are enjoined to take utmost precautions to avoid dangers as a result of torrential rainfall being witnessed presently.
“School proprietors and teachers are highly advised to keep the children under their custody till 30 minutes after the rainfall before the children should be released.
“This is to safeguard the children from playing in the rainwater on their way home. After the flashing flooding, which will not last beyond 30 minutes, it will be safe for the children to find their way home.
“Drivers are hereby warned to exercise patience as highways have been blocked. People should avoid taking refuge in makeshift shelters as the place can be washed off by floods.”
Farinloye said NEMA and other stakeholders had been stationed on the highways to monitor and respond to any distress situation that may arise during the torrential rainfall in the state.
