The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered the desilting of drainages along federal roads in Lagos State with a view to deflooding the highways.
The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday.
The directive came after business and commercial activities were grounded on Wednesday following a 10-hour downpour in many parts of Lagos and Ogun states.
The resulting flooding brought down a two-storey building in the Mushin area of Lagos, grounded vehicular movement on the roads, and overwhelmed thousands of residents while pupils could not attend schools in parts of the states.
According to The PUNCH, some affected flooded areas such as Iyana-Oworo, Agege, Ijegun-Isheri Osun, Gbagada and Lagos Island in Lagos State, observed that roads and houses were flooded as a result of long hours of downpour.
Other flooded places in Lagos include Eredo, Bojije, Epe, Sangotedo, Ibeju-Lekki, Awoyaya, Labora, and Abijon.
The Federal Controller of Works, Kesha, said Lagos State was not experiencing widespread submergence from floodwaters.
She admitted that “localised flooding” affected certain sections of federal roads within the city, hence the need to clear the drainages.
She said, “We wish to clarify that contrary to some reports, Lagos is not experiencing widespread submergence from floodwaters.
“However, the ministry acknowledges that localised flooding has affected certain sections of federal roads within the city.
“The minister has directed the desilting of drains along federal roads in the state with a view to deflooding the highways.
“Our teams are currently deployed to assess the situation while the desilting of drains along the affected roads are currently being carried out.
“The ministry understands the inconvenience caused by these flash floods and is committed to eliminating the disruptions caused thereafter”.
It was a total disaster yesterday, in Lagos as floods grounded activities across the street of Lagos. Workers and students were left stranded as transport services refused to work or hiked transport fares.
Some workers who spoke with BreezyNewsNG, expressed their distress over the severe flooding situation.
A worker, who did not want to be named said they trekked from Jakande gate to Isolo under the heavy rainfall. He lamented the absence of commercial buses, tricycles, and transportation services, which were grounded due to the floodwaters, leaving them stranded.
The worker recounted witnessing three commercial buses breaking down at Ilepo along the Oshodi-Ikotun road causing other transportation services to either refuse to ply the road or charge exorbitant fees.
It was also blame galore, with many pointing accusing fingers at the state government for failing to enforce environmental protection laws and prosecuting those caught dumping refuse in drainage channels leading to their blockage and flooding whenever it rains.
Some Lagos residents, who spoke with Vanguard, lamented that the poor drainage system in some parts of the metropolis, such as Oworosonki, Oshodi, and Alimosho, among others, is the major cause of the perennial flooding situation in the state.
Expressing their displeasure with the flooding situation in the state, they called on the state government to come to their rescue.
A resident of Lekki, one of the worst hit by flood, lamented that the flooding in their area has become so massive lately that they are unable to leave their homes.
Meanwhile, In the Ijesha area of the state, the state government sealed an apartment building whose occupants were seen throwing trash into the street.
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab confirmed the development.
An X user, Adeoye Adetutu had posted a picture of some residents appearing to throw their trash out on the street, tagging the commissioner in the image.
Adetutu wrote: “(These) people just poured out their waste to the street water. This is no 2 Akewukewe Street beside Ikate Local Government in Ijesha Surulere”.
In response, Wahab requested that the matter be looked into by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
In an update hours later, the commissioner said: “The house has been identified and locked immediately by the Environmental Health Service Department of Itire-Ikate LCDA”.
