Floods Hit Homes and Power Supply in Lagos

Floodwaters swept through many areas in Lagos State on Tuesday after hours of heavy rain. The flooding submerged homes and roads, making it hard to move around and causing power outages in some parts of the state due to damage to key transmission facilities.

Videos shared by PUNCH Metro showed flooded streets in FESTAC, Gbagada, Evans, Olushi, Anikantamo, and Adeniji Adele on Lagos Island. Residents were seen wading through the waterlogged roads, while motorists struggled to drive on the submerged streets.

In Ikeja, reporters noticed that floodwaters entered many homes and shops. Some residents had to temporarily leave their homes because they were worried about the worsening situation.

The flooding got worse because drains were blocked with plastic waste and the drainage system is not enough. This left many roads covered in knee-deep water.

Abidemi Raji, a resident of Ikeja, blamed the flooding on bad road design and blocked drainage channels. “The way the road was constructed contributes to the flooding. Although there is a drainage channel, it usually takes between 30 minutes and one hour after the rain stops before the water recedes because of the volume of water,” he said.

Raji claimed that a drainage channel linking his area to another street got blocked after a hotel was built. “There is supposed to be a channel connecting this compound to the next street, but the back passage was blocked after the hotel was built. That has worsened the flooding,” he added.

The heavy rain also flooded many streets in Festac, part of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, making it hard to move around and leaving residents and motorists stranded.

A video shared by Lagos Reporters on X showed floodwaters covering major roads and inner streets. Pedestrians waded through water while drivers struggled to get through.

Okeke Mmesoma, a resident, described the flooding as a regular problem. “Anytime it rains heavily, this place gets flooded. It is usually after the rain stops that the water begins to clear. My shoes were soaked this morning on my way to work,” she said.

She added that many drivers avoided the flooded roads to stop their vehicles from breaking down, while commuters stayed away to avoid getting wet.

Flooding was also seen in Ajah, with roads around Adeniji Adele, Evans, Olushi, and Anikantamo on Lagos Island underwater.

The heavy rainfall also caused power outages after floodwaters damaged equipment at the Oworo 132/33kV Transmission Station.

On Tuesday, Ikeja Electric released a public notice saying severe flooding at the station affected two power transformers and several 33kV feeders. The affected feeders serve places like Ladilak, Bariga, Araromi, Oworo, Pedro, GTB, Alapere, Agboyi, Araba, Hospital, and Gbagada.

Ikeja Electric said they were working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria to restore power as soon as the damaged equipment is fixed.

The flooding also impacted Ogun State, where residents of Gloryland Estate in Ibafo called on the state government for urgent help. They said the flooding damaged buildings, disrupted movement, and forced some families to leave their homes during the rainy season.

Oladipupo Awoyemi, a member of the Community Development Association, blamed the flooding on blocked drainage channels connected to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. “Whenever it rains continuously for two or three days, the whole community becomes flooded. We have reported the blocked drainage channels several times, but the problem remains unresolved,” he said.

Awoyemi added that unplanned construction and waste dumping have blocked waterways further. “Years ago, the flooding was not this severe because water flowed freely. Today, many canals have been blocked by buildings and factories, while refuse dumped into the drains has made the situation worse,” he said.

He noted that annual flooding has caused damage to buildings, disrupted businesses, and put residents at health risk. “It affects everybody. People cannot use the roads freely, vehicles are forced to take longer routes, and some residents have to leave their homes whenever the flooding becomes severe,” he added.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the dredging of 28 more primary drainage channels to help control flooding across the state. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, shared this in a statement on Tuesday.

Wahab called Tuesday’s heavy rain an extreme weather event that overwhelmed drainage systems, causing temporary flooding in areas like Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikeja, Gbagada, Mushin, Mafoluku, and many others.

He explained that Lagos’ geographical features, with its lagoons and rivers, slow down stormwater discharge into the sea during high tide, making temporary flooding likely after heavy rain.

The commissioner assured residents that the government is monitoring drainage systems and flood-prone areas while emergency services are ready to help affected communities.

He urged residents to stop dumping waste into drains, avoid illegal land reclamation, and refrain from building on drainage paths, warning that these actions worsen flooding.

Wahab advised drivers to avoid flooded roads during heavy rains and encouraged residents, especially those in flood-prone areas, to follow weather warnings and safety tips from relevant authorities.