Flooding: In Lekki, the rich also cry

Lekki's affluent estates, once symbols of luxury, are now frequently transformed into flooded canals after heavy rainfall. Residents accustomed to gleaming SUVs and multi-million-naira homes face a recurring nightmare as murky brown water engulfs streets, invades living rooms, and forces the abandonment of luxury vehicles.

The situation has become more than a seasonal inconvenience for those living along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway corridor, including areas like Osapa London, Baruwa/Igbo Efon, Agungi, Lekki Phase 1, Chevron, Ikota, and parts of Ajah. The constant threat of flooding tests residents' finances and emotional resilience, turning every rainfall into an emergency.

Residents express anxiety whenever dark clouds gather over Lagos. They take precautions like moving cars to higher ground, elevating furniture, and switching off electrical appliances. Some even prepare sandbags, anticipating the inevitable invasion of floodwater. "We no longer enjoy the rain," lamented one resident. "Each rainfall now feels like an emergency."

Concerns have intensified due to ongoing construction on sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Residents of Baruwa/Igbo Efon claim that drainage channels associated with the project are redirecting stormwater directly into their community. This has led to persistent flooding, weakening building foundations, damaging fences, and destroying household belongings.

The material losses are extensive: furniture, refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, and other appliances have been damaged. Mattresses are unusable, and wardrobes show signs of prolonged moisture damage, with ceilings and walls bearing dampness. Beyond possessions, the floods disrupt daily life, causing children to miss school as vehicles cannot leave flooded estates.

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We no longer enjoy the rain. Each rainfall now feels like an emergency.