A torrential downpour on Wednesday triggered widespread flooding across Ondo State, cutting off a section of the busy Lagos-Ore-Benin Expressway in Odigbo Local Government Area, displacing residents and destroying property worth millions of naira.
The flood submerged a stretch of the federal highway, leaving hundreds of motorists and commuters stranded in a gridlock that lasted several hours.
Long queues of vehicles stretched several kilometres as drivers struggled to navigate the inundated road, one of Nigeria’s busiest transport corridors linking the South-West with the South-South and South-East.
The heavy rainfall also caused severe flooding in Ondo town, expecially the Itanla Junction, Onipakala Junction and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) road were among the worst-hit locations.
Vehicles, including those belonging to members of staff of UNIMED, were submerged and damaged, while homes, shops and other valuables were destroyed by the surging floodwaters.
The impact of the downpour extended to Odigbo, Irele, Ode-Aye and Igbokoda, where overflowing drains and waterways forced many residents to abandon their homes as floodwaters swept through their communities.
Although there was no loss of life but several families were displaced and commercial activities were disrupted across the affected areas on Thursday
Residents blamed the recurring flooding on poor drainage infrastructure and indiscriminate blockage of waterways, urging government at all levels to take decisive action before the peak of the rainy season.
Many stranded travellers expressed frustration over the hours spent on the highway, describing the experience as avoidable.
One of travellers, Joshua Oladele, who explained that he had to sleep in an hotel after being held in a particular spot for several hours, appealed for urgent intervention to prevent future occurrences.
“Everybody was stranded. We never expected the Lagos-Ore-Benin Expressway to become impassable because of flooding. The government needs to urgently fix this problem so it does not happen again,” he said.
Responding to the situation, the Ondo State Government sympathised with residents affected by the flooding and assured them that emergency response efforts had commenced.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tob Loko, said the government had previously identified and mapped several flood-prone locations across the state but noted that fresh reports and visual evidence had revealed additional areas requiring immediate attention.
According to him, while it may not be possible to intervene simultaneously in every affected community, the government remains committed to implementing lasting flood-control measures through coordinated and sustained efforts.
Loko disclosed that amphibious excavators were being deployed through the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical and Ecological Control to strategic locations for emergency desilting, channelisation and drainage clearance.
He also urged residents to promptly report flooding and other environmental concerns to the Ministry of Environment and relevant agencies to enable swift intervention and reduce the impact of future flooding.