Parts of Lagos State were submerged by floodwaters on Tuesday morning following heavy rainfall that began in the early hours. The flooding affected major roads and neighbourhoods, including Ikorodu, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Akowonjo, and Lekki, leaving residents stranded and property damaged.
In Ikorodu, the downpour destroyed property worth millions of naira, while Alhaji Idowu Street in Akowonjo and roads in Osapa London, Lekki, were heavily flooded. Residents reported being unable to leave their homes or move vehicles safely due to rising water levels.
A resident in Akowonjo lamented, “This is just three hours of rain, and everywhere is flooded. When it is not as if the people living here are not humans. This is just too bad.” Another resident in Lekki said the floodwaters were so high that even Uber drivers refused to enter the area.
Traffic was severely affected as flooded highways forced vehicles to move slowly or break down, causing gridlock. Pedestrians and motorists faced delays, with some unable to reach offices on time. One commuter described how the T-junction near the Mobil filling station was impassable, with only SUVs and commercial buses able to navigate the waters.
Commercial drivers in Egbeda-Idimu and other flooded routes called on the Lagos State government to provide lasting solutions, warning that recurrent flooding was worsening with each rainy season. “This is not the first time we are complaining about flooding in this area. It is already getting out of hand,” said one driver.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunboh Wahab, acknowledged the flooding but attributed it to unusually heavy rainfall overwhelming drainage systems. “As a coastal city, Lagos is naturally vulnerable to tidal lock-up when rising water levels in the lagoon slow down the discharge of runoff. This is further worsened by climate change,” he explained.
Wahab added that the state government has resilient systems in place to manage flash floods and is monitoring areas near rivers and lagoons, which are at higher risk during heavy downpours.
Calls to the ministry’s spokesperson, Adekunle Adeshina, were not returned as of the time of reporting.
Residents continue to appeal for urgent government intervention as recurrent flooding disrupts daily life and threatens property across Lagos State.