DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Disasters & Emergencies

Downpour cripples Lagos, flood submerges cars, strands motorists

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • A heavy downpour on Monday caused widespread flooding across Lagos, submerging vehicles and stranding motorists.
  • Major areas like Ikoyi, Lekki, and Victoria Island were severely affected, disrupting commercial activities and causing significant traffic.
  • Residents and commuters expressed frustration over the recurring flooding, with some attributing it to ongoing coastal highway construction.

Torrential rainfall on Monday brought Lagos to a standstill, with widespread flooding submerging vehicles and leaving motorists and commuters stranded. Commercial activities were halted in several parts of the city, including heavily impacted areas like Ikoyi, Lekki, Victoria Island, and Oworonshoki. Videos circulating on social media depicted long queues of stationary vehicles and pedestrians wading through knee-deep water.

Oh, guys, see the Bourdillon.

— Iyabo OjoA Nollywood actress reacting to the flooding on Bourdillon Road.

Residents described the rainfall as one of the heaviest in recent weeks, noting its disruptive effect on movement, business activities, and overall productivity. Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo shared her shock at the flooding on Bourdillon Road, while another motorist lamented being stuck for hours due to the "flash floods everywhere." The recurring nature of the flooding in Lagos was a common theme among frustrated commuters.

This is part of the menace we are experiencing in Lagos. Flash floods everywhere. I have been stuck in traffic for the past two hours. This is the simple reason everywhere is blocked. There is nowhere to go. We’ve all been stranded for the past two hours. Which way to go, Lagos? It is becoming crazy. Cars are submerged in water and people are trekking through the flood.

— MotoristA frustrated motorist describing the impact of the flooding and traffic.

Some commuters pointed to the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a potential cause for the severe flooding. "This is the effect of the coastal road," one passenger claimed. Another resident noted the lack of drainage systems on Lagos roads, which exacerbates flooding even with light rain. The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, attributed the flooding to a significant rise in the lagoon's water level, which he stated has increased by approximately one meter, impeding the discharge of stormwater.

This is Ikoyi, Lagos. I can tell you for a fact that there are no drainage systems on these roads, and that is why it floods anytime it drizzles.

— Abel KaluA social media user commenting on the lack of drainage systems in Ikoyi.

Wahab explained that the elevated lagoon level is preventing stormwater from flowing freely from drainage channels into the lagoon, leading to temporary flooding. This situation highlights ongoing challenges with urban infrastructure and water management in Lagos, particularly during periods of intense rainfall.

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 tempo

— Tokunbo WahabLagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources explaining the cause of the flooding.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog