Major roads and some houses were flooded and some properties destroyed in Lagos, yesterday, after a downpour, which lasted for hours. The rain, which started at about 9:30a.m., in many parts of the state caught many residents and passengers unaware, as they ran to shelter stands to avoid being soaked.
Areas, such as Isolo, Ojota, Maryland Bridge, Ikosi-Ketu, Gbagada, Surulere, Ikorodu and others witnessed the rain. The Guardian observed that at the Ketu-Ikosi axis of the Kosofe Local Council, the roads leading to the Mile 12 Market were flooded.
Many streets in Ikosi were also flooded and the development caused a gridlock along the road leading towards Oworonshoki- Oshodi- Apapa expressway.
Some passengers lamented that the rain flooded their homes. A woman identified only simply as Iyalode, who sells wares along Ketu axis, said her home in Alapere, Ketu, was flooded. She said: “I was in my shop and didn’t know that my home had been flooded. Whenever it rains like this, the street leading to our home is always flooded with muddy water, which, somehow, finds its way through the back door of my home to inside the house.”
A motorist, Monday Orie, said his vehicle got stuck near Maryland Bridge, during the downpour. Also, the heavy downpour affected Lagos area office of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (), which was flooded with water, disrupting business activities.
In a video that went viral, the rain fell directly through the dilapidated roof into the open office of one of the fund’s departments on the ground floor.
The office, which had a lot of computers and other work accessories, had the employees cover them with polythene bags to save their tools from being damaged.
Recall that Lagos State government had advised residents to prepare for above-normal rainfall, which will start in the first week of April and cease in December.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, had at the 2023 press briefing on Seasonal Climate Predictions and its socio-economic implications for Lagos, said the 1936.2mm amount of rainfall predicted for 2023 was greater than the long-term average of 1721.48mm experienced in the state in the last 10 years. He specifically stated that Ikeja is expected to have a yearly amount of 1,900mm while Badagry will experience 1,978mm amount of rainfall.
