Downpour cripples Lagos, flood submerges cars, strands motorists

A torrential downpour on Monday brought commercial activities to a halt in several parts of Lagos as widespread flooding submerged vehicles, left motorists and commuters stranded and triggered severe traffic across major roads.

The worst-hit areas included Ikoyi, Lekki, Victoria Island and Oworonshoki, where floodwaters overwhelmed roads and left many vehicles partially submerged.

Videos shared by commuters on social media and monitored by PUNCH Metro showed long queues of stationary vehicles, with some motorists trapped for hours while pedestrians waded through knee-deep floodwaters to reach their destinations.

Many residents described the rainfall as one of the heaviest in recent weeks, saying it disrupted movement, delayed business activities and significantly reduced productivity across the state.

Among those who reacted was a Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, who expressed shock at the flooding along Bourdillon Road in a video posted on Galaxy Television’s Facebook page.

“Oh, guys, see the Bourdillon,” she exclaimed while filming the flood-ravaged road.

In another video shared by Television Continental on YouTube, a visibly frustrated motorist lamented the recurring flooding in Lagos.

“This is part of the menace we are experiencing in Lagos. Flash floods everywhere. I have been stuck in traffic for the past two hours.

“This is the simple reason everywhere is blocked. There is nowhere to go. We’ve all been stranded for the past two hours. Which way to go, Lagos? It is becoming crazy. Cars are submerged in water and people are trekking through the flood,” he said.

Some commuters blamed the persistent flooding on ongoing construction associated with the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

“This is the effect of the coastal road,” one passenger claimed in a separate video.

Another video posted on X by Abel Kalu shows motorists cautiously navigating a heavily flooded road in Ikoyi.

“This is Ikoyi, Lagos. I can tell you for a fact that there are no drainage systems on these roads, and that is why it floods anytime it drizzles,” he wrote.

Reacting to the situation, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, attributed the flooding to a sharp rise in the lagoon water level.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Monday, Wahab said the lagoon had risen by about a metre, preventing stormwater from flowing freely into it.

“The flooding currently being experienced in some parts of Lagos is largely attributable to a significant rise in the lagoon water level, which has increased by approximately one metre.

“This elevated lagoon level is impeding the effective discharge of stormwater from drainage channels into the lagoon, resulting in temporary flooding in some areas.

“As rainfall subsides and the lagoon water level gradually recedes, the accumulated stormwater on affected roads and streets is expected to drain off.

“We appeal to Lagosians to remain patient and exercise caution while the situation normalises. Relevant government agencies are closely monitoring developments and will continue to implement appropriate measures to mitigate the impact,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency’s Lagos Operations Office carried out a flood impact assessment in Surulere communities following the downpour.

According to a statement issued by the agency on Monday, the exercise followed a request for intervention by the lawmaker representing the constituency, Lanre Okunlola.

The assessment covered Orile, Coker, Aguda, Itire, Ikate and Ijesha communities to determine the extent of the damage, identify affected households and document the immediate humanitarian needs of residents.

NEMA said several homes and business premises were inundated, leading to damage to household property, disruption of livelihoods and restricted movement in the affected communities.

The agency attributed the flooding largely to intense rainfall, blocked drainage channels and poor maintenance of drainage infrastructure.

It added that affected residents appealed for food items, essential relief materials and improvements to drainage systems to minimise future flooding.

“NEMA sympathised with the affected residents and assured them that the assessment findings would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities to facilitate necessary humanitarian intervention,” the agency said.

The agency also urged residents to keep drainage channels free of refuse, avoid indiscriminate waste disposal and promptly report emergencies to relevant authorities. (Punch)