By Bose Adelaja
CITIZENS COMPASS –Many buildings, vehicles, and other properties were submerged in water on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, following torrential rains witnessed across Lagos State.
The downpour which started at about 2 a.m. till about 1. p.m. saw most access roads including the expressway flooded making both vehicular and human movements difficult.
Various social media handles were bombarded with footage from various scenes including extortion and other sharp practices by people.
In the midst of this, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, has called for calm.
Many parts of Lagos including Ikorodu, Alapere, Iyana-Ipaja, Surulere, Ijesha, Okokomaiko, Ibeju-Lekki, Mende/Maryland, Gbagada, Oshodi, Isolo, Lekki/Ajah, Ikoyi, Ogba, Ikeja, Agege, Badagry, Iyana-Oworo, Super among others.
On Agege Motor Road in Oshodi, vehicles were seen stranded in the flood as some occupants of the vehicles were heard shouting for help.
Iyana-Oworo inward Lagos Island was not left out as a massive flood left many motorists stranded.
The same was witnessed along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and some other roads in the City of Excellence.
At some of the affected areas, some Area Boys had their field days charging between N100 and N1,000 from pedestrians to either cross people to the other side or access make-shift bridges at some designated points.
Schools and worship centers were not left out as many of them could not be accessed.
In a statement, the Commissioner said; “Lagos State Government on Wednesday called for calm from residents over the flash flood which the incessant rainfalls experienced throughout the state since the early hours of the day had caused.
In a statement signed by Kunle Adeshina, Director, Public Affairs (MOE&WR), he explained that Lagos has experienced about 9 hours of nonstop rainfall since the early hours of Wednesday.
He added that this is coupled with heavy rainfall which the state has been experiencing daily since last week resulting in the level rise of the Lagos lagoon.
Wahab explained that the flash floods which inundated areas like Iyana Oworo linking the Third Mainland and several other areas will recede once the rains abate and the level of the lagoon goes down.
The Commissioner added that the State has also deployed officials of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang to major black spots including Iyana Oworo which has been cleared of all blockages.
He urged all those in low-lying areas to as a matter of necessity relocate to higher grounds at this period to safeguard lives and properties.
He also urged residents to desist from wading through floods with their vehicles as it takes only a foot of flowing water with high tide to sweep away a vehicle irrespective of the number of occupants.
The Commissioner also urged all residents to avail themselves of daily weather reports issued by the State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources as it serves as a guide to daily itinerary.
He reminded that Lagos is a coastal city with almost one-third of its landmass underwater, as such necessitating a genuine reason for every resident to be more responsive to the state of the environment.
He reiterated that the State Government on its part has embarked upon a year-long maintenance and cleaning of all its secondary and primary collectors to be able to contain runoffs that may come from heavy rainfalls.
He added that residents on their part are expected to regularly clean and maintain the tertiary drains in front of their tenements and refrain from dumping refuse in the drains for the collective good of everyone.
