Heavy rainfall that started on Sunday night and continued uninterrupted until Monday evening caused severe flooding in several communities in Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial capital.
The flooding paralysed trade and economic activities in the nation’s commercial hub, with residents taking to social media to cry for help.
Viral videos showed submerged houses and vehicles in Ijede, Ikorodu, as coastal and flood-prone areas like Lekki, parts of Eti-Osa, and Ajegunle were affected.
Agege, Surulere, and Alimosho local government areas also experienced flooding, with residents navigating pool-like streets and roads.
The flooding disrupted trade and economic activities in the nation’s commercial hub.
Movement was hampered as motorists avoided flooded roads to prevent their vehicles from being submerged.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, acknowledged the pain of Lagosians and assured them that the state has put in place resilient infrastructure to combat flash flooding.
Wahab in a statement on Monday cited a new weather advisory from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency warning of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for the next three days.
He urged parents and guardians to exercise vigilance over their children and wards, cautioned against children playing outside during the flood, and warned residents not to dispose of refuse into drains.
He assured that the state would intensify year-round cleaning and maintenance of all drainage channels to contain runoff from rainfalls.
Also, heavy rainfall caused flooding in some communities, washing away farmlands in Lapai, Paikoro, and Mokwa Local Government Areas of Niger State.
Last week, flooding submerged communities in eight areas of the state.
The flooding in Lagos and other states highlighted the need for effective drainage systems and emergency preparedness to mitigate the impact of heavy rainfall.
The state government’s response and plan to combat flash flooding are crucial in preventing future occurrences.
