By: Ganiyu Olayinka
Commercial activities were disrupted across several parts of Lagos on Monday after a torrential downpour triggered widespread flooding, leaving motorists and commuters stranded and causing severe traffic gridlock on major roads.
The worst-hit areas included Ikoyi, Lekki, Victoria Island and Oworonshoki, where floodwaters submerged roads and partially engulfed several vehicles.
Videos circulating on social media showed long queues of stationary vehicles, with some motorists trapped for hours while pedestrians waded through knee-deep floodwaters to reach their destinations. Residents described the rainfall as among the heaviest in recent weeks, saying it disrupted movement, delayed business activity and significantly affected productivity across the state.
Among those who reacted was Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, who expressed shock at the flooding along Bourdillon Road in a video shared on Galaxy Television’s Facebook page, exclaiming over the state of the submerged road as she filmed it.
In a separate video shared by Television Continental on YouTube, a frustrated motorist described the scale of the disruption, saying he had been stuck in traffic for two hours amid flash floods that had left the roads impassable, with cars submerged and residents trekking through the water.
Some commuters attributed the persistent flooding to ongoing construction linked to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, with one passenger alleging the road project was responsible. In another video shared on X, Abel Kalu showed motorists cautiously navigating a heavily flooded stretch in Ikoyi, arguing that the absence of proper drainage systems on the roads was to blame for the flooding whenever it rained.
Reacting to the development, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, attributed the flooding to a significant rise in the lagoon’s water level. In a statement posted on his X handle on Monday, Wahab said the lagoon level had risen by about one metre, which was preventing stormwater from draining 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 (NEMA) Lagos Operations Office conducted a flood impact assessment in Surulere communities following the downpour. According to a statement from the agency, the assessment followed a request for intervention by the lawmaker representing the constituency, Lanre Okunlola.
The exercise covered the Orile, Coker, Aguda, Itire, Ikate and Ijesha communities to determine the extent of damage, identify affected households and assess residents’ immediate humanitarian needs. NEMA said several homes and business premises were inundated, resulting in damaged property, disrupted livelihoods and restricted movement within the affected communities, attributing the flooding to heavy rainfall, blocked drainage channels and poor maintenance of drainage infrastructure.
The agency said affected residents had appealed for food items, relief materials and improved drainage systems to reduce the impact of future flooding, adding that it sympathised with those affected and would forward its assessment findings to the relevant authorities to facilitate humanitarian intervention.
NEMA also urged residents to keep drainage channels free of refuse, avoid indiscriminate waste disposal, and promptly report emergencies to the appropriate authorities.
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