Flood hits Lagos communities, paralyse businesses as residents groan

Residents, commuters, and traders faced significant frustration on Monday as flash floods swept through various communities and streets in Lagos State. This deluge followed intense rainfall that began on Sunday night and continued intermittently throughout Monday.

The downpour, which started around midnight, resulted in severe flooding across both the Island and Mainland, disrupting trade and economic activities in Nigeria’s bustling commercial hub.

Many residents took to social media to cry for help, sharing images and videos of submerged homes, vehicles, and streets.

Viral videos showed large swathes of Ijede in Ikorodu under water, with residents wading through floodwaters or stranded. In one clip, a woman in distress pleaded in Yoruba: “We are in Oko Ope in Ijede. Have mercy on us. This is our community. We can’t even enter our homes. The flood has destroyed everything. I’m not even wearing footwear. Come and save us-today is August 4, 2025.”

Another resident recorded his home completely flooded, lamenting, “From August 3 to 4, my house inside and outside is full of water. It’s like a big ocean. Look at cars submerged.”

Flood-prone areas such as Lekki, Eti-Osa, Ajegunle, Agege, Surulere, and Alimosho were among the worst affected.

Shops and markets in Ikeja, Agege, Maryland, and Oshodi remained closed as of 10 a.m., while many commuters were stranded for hours on flooded roads.

Residents called on the government for urgent action.

Modupe Akinbiyi from Gberegbe, Ikorodu, said, “We experience heavy flooding every rainy season. We have sent several complaints to the government and the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources without result.”

Anthony Azubuike also criticised drainage maintenance, saying, “Authorities should monitor the drainage clearance properly. The waste removed is often left beside the drain and eventually returns to block it again.”

Reacting to the widespread flooding, the state’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, assured residents via his X handle that the government is aware of the situation and working on a long-term fix.

“We have seen the trending videos and understand the concerns. The ongoing drainage project in Ikorodu, approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is aimed at providing a permanent solution,” he said.

He added that excavation work toward the discharge point would commence immediately, with culvert construction prioritised.

On Sunday, a torrential downpour wreaked widespread destruction across communities in Plateau, Niger and Bauchi states, leaving scores of houses destroyed, farmlands submerged, and hundreds of residents displaced.

In the Menkaat community, Shimankar district, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State, over 50 houses, including schools and a worship centre, were destroyed.

In Bauchi, a rainstorm also displaced over 40 households and swept away farmlands in Dass Local Government Area.

Adamu Nayola, Director of Relief and Rehabilitation at the Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said that although no lives were lost, many victims, especially women and children, are now in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

Also, flood submerged several farmlands in parts of Niger State following an early morning rainfall on Sunday in Paikoro and Lapai LGAs.

The federal government had issued a red alert for imminent flooding in 11 states.