- Lagos Residents Count Losses as Flooding Submerges Homes, Businesses
- Residents blamed blocked drains, poor infrastructure and illegal construction for flooding.
- Victims appealed for urgent government intervention and emergency relief assistance.
Residents of several communities across Lagos State are counting their losses after days of torrential rainfall triggered widespread flooding that submerged homes, destroyed businesses, displaced families and disrupted economic activities.
Many affected residents said the flooding damaged household property, wiped out businesses worth hundreds of thousands of naira and forced families to seek temporary shelter.
They appealed to the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene by clearing blocked drainage channels, completing ongoing canal projects and providing relief materials to affected communities.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that a poultry farmer in Lekki Scheme II, identified simply as Alex, said he had been trapped in his home for three days after floodwaters submerged his compound and devastated his poultry business.
“For over three days, I couldn’t go out. I’m on my bed right now because everywhere is flooded,” he said.
Alex explained that rising floodwaters overwhelmed his poultry pens, killing several chicks and leaving him with significant financial losses.
“I’m looking at my chickens dying. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. The eggs I managed to recover, I boiled them to eat,” he lamented.
The farmer, who has lived in the community for more than a decade, described the incident as the worst flooding he had experienced.
According to him, Lekki Scheme II had previously escaped severe flooding, but the situation has deteriorated due to inadequate drainage infrastructure.
He also accused some property developers of obstructing a major canal by building on it, thereby restricting the natural flow of stormwater.
“Those developers built on top of the canal. They narrowed it and turned it into a gutter. That’s why we’re suffering this flood,” he said.
Alex urged the authorities to complete the ongoing canal project and remove structures blocking natural waterways to prevent future flooding.
Families Forced Out Of Their Homes
Another resident, Johnson, who lives in Ajiran, Lekki, said floodwater entered his apartment at about 4 a.m., forcing him, his wife and children to seek refuge in a neighbour’s upstairs apartment.
“We had to wake the children and move them to safety because the water kept rising. We have not slept properly since then,” he said.
Johnson said the flood damaged household items, including a refrigerator, mattresses, electronic appliances, food supplies and his children’s school books.
Although flooding is common during the rainy season, he described the latest incident as one of the worst the community has experienced.
“I couldn’t go to work, and my children could not go to school. It means lost income and missed classes,” he said.
He also warned that stagnant floodwater could increase the risk of outbreaks of waterborne and mosquito-borne diseases.
Trader Suffers Heavy Business Losses
At Ikotun Market, foodstuff trader Ifeanyi Kugbala said floodwater swept into her shop, soaking bags of rice, beans and other food items worth hundreds of thousands of naira.
“When the rain started, water entered my shop without notice. Many of my goods were soaked, and some cannot be sold again,” she said.
Kugbala disclosed that she had taken a loan to restock her business and now fears she may struggle to repay it.
“This is my only source of income. I don’t know where to start because everything I invested is now at risk,” she added.
She blamed the recurring flooding on blocked drainage channels and appealed to the government to improve drainage infrastructure and regularly desilt waterways around the market.
‘Nobody Sleeps When It Rains’
In Ebute Metta, a resident identified as Kehinde said heavy rainfall has become a constant source of fear for families living close to canals.
Kehinde, who resides on Bola Street, said residents remain awake whenever heavy rain falls because they fear nearby canals could overflow.
“Once it starts raining heavily, nobody in this area sleeps with both eyes closed. We keep watching the canal because once it begins to overflow, we know water will soon enter our homes,” she said.
She added that Friday’s downpour caused the canal to overflow within hours, flooding surrounding streets and residential buildings.
“We don’t pray for rain anymore; we pray that whenever it rains, the canal doesn’t overflow. That is the reality here,” she said.
She appealed to the Lagos State Government to intensify the desilting of canals and improve drainage systems in flood-prone communities.
Flood Victims Seek Government Assistance
A journalist, who requested anonymity, said he and his family have been living in a hotel for the past two weeks after floodwater rendered their apartment uninhabitable.
He said the displacement has placed an additional financial burden on his family while forcing him to search for a new residence.
He advised prospective tenants to investigate the flood history of any community before renting accommodation, especially during the rainy season.
Residents attributed the recurring flooding to blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate waste disposal and rapid urban development without corresponding investment in drainage infrastructure.
They called on the Lagos State Government to intensify the clearing and desilting of drains and canals, enforce environmental regulations, prevent construction on natural waterways and provide emergency assistance, including food, clean water, mattresses and medical support, to affected families.
