Flooding Disrupts Lagos and Ogun Commuters Again

Many drivers and passengers were stuck in different parts of Lagos and Ogun states after heavy rain on Sunday.

This came a week after severe rainfall caused major damage to homes and roads across these states and other areas in Nigeria.

PUNCH Metro learned that places like Agbado Road in Ogun State, Egbeda-Akowonjo, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road in Lagos were hit hard by the flooding.

In Ogun, the heavy rain caused Agbado Road to be submerged. This major route connects several communities along the Lagos-Ogun border, making it hard for people to move around.

Many parts of the road became impossible to pass through.

The road links communities like Adiyan, Ope-Ilu, Itoki, and Abule-Ijoko to Sango-Ota and is an alternative route to the often-busy Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Videos taken by our reporter showed large areas of the road completely underwater, with floodwater covering roadside kiosks, point-of-sale stands, and market stalls.

Many motorcycles were found abandoned or partially submerged, while tricycles and passengers were stuck as the flood made movement impossible.

A filling station along the road was also underwater, while residents watched from higher ground as commercial and vehicular activities stopped.

In Lagos, commuters faced similar challenges as floodwater disrupted their movement.

A local resident, who only gave his name as Obe, told our reporter that his car was nearly submerged in the Idimu area of the state.

"The floodwater almost covered my vehicle’s bonnet. It was a serious situation. I could not stop because I was afraid my car would get stuck in the floodwater. I thank God I was able to get through it," he said.

PUNCH Metro noticed that flooding also blocked the NAHCO bus stop area on the expressway leading to Murtala Muhammed International Airport from Oshodi.

Nearby areas like Stella Sholanke in Ajao Estate saw flooding due to blocked drainage systems.

Some users on X expressed their anger about the ongoing flooding in Lagos and Ogun states.

One user known as Packet Commander wrote, "After all the demolitions in Lagos, flooding is still a recurring nightmare. It can’t be blamed entirely on littering or Lagosians.

"Lagos should declare a state of emergency on canal cleaning, maintenance, and redesign. We should see dedicated teams clearing and maintaining drainage channels every single day.

"The money isn’t the problem. Lagos has the resources. Employ more people, pay them well, rebuild failing drainage systems, and rethink the entire flood management strategy. This is an infrastructure emergency, not just a sanitation issue."

Another user, Mr Stephen, said the flooding came from years of bad urban planning.

"Flooding is exposing a bigger issue: drainage, road maintenance, and urban planning must keep pace with population growth," he wrote.

The flooding comes after the Nigerian Meteorological Agency warned about increased flood risks during the rainy season.

In its latest flash flood advisory, NiMet warned that heavy rain expected during the first 10 days of July (July 1, 10) could cause flooding in 27 states across the country.

The agency said the increased flood risk came from continuous rain in June, which left the ground soaked and unable to take in more water.

According to NiMet, states at risk of flash flooding include Taraba, Sokoto, Borno, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Adamawa, Kwara, Kogi, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Edo, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, and Bayelsa.

The Lagos State Government has also continued to tell residents in flood-prone areas to move to safer places.