By Ola Kay
A heavy rainfall which started very early on Wednesday and lasted for nearly nine hours in Lagos State has created a sense of traffic chaos as commuters were helpless coping with the situation, even as they experienced unusual difficulties getting to work, schools and other destinations.
A situation report by our reporter revealed that locations such as Iyana-Oworo, Olopo Meji areas leading to the 3rd Mainland Bridge were seriously flooded, leading to gridlock spreading up to Alapere.
this is apart from reports of floods recorded in such locations as Ogba Ikeja and others that are prone to flooding after a heavy downpour.
Parents who could attempt sacrificed extra efforts to get their children to school and return them with same dexterity, while this was not the case in other parts where households had to fight to resist the flood water from sacking their homes by scooping water with buckets.
But, some of the schools located in White Sand Estate, Isheri-Osun in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, closed their gates, calling on students to stay at home as heavy rains and subsequent flooding disrupted activities.
The management of a particular school in the area, (name withheld) sent messages to parents and pupils, to stay at home due to the hazardous conditions of the roads and the school, and overall public safety concerns.
In another scenario, Motorists had to spend hours on the road coming through Alapere to the Third Mainland Bridge.
As to how the long rainfall had affected people getting to work, a housewife who spoke to our correspondent in Ogba, Ikeja, stated that, as at 11: am, her husband was yet to get to his place of work sue to the flood in the way.
” My husband left the house as early as 6:30 am and as I speak with you he is still on the way.
It wasn’t long he called back that he would be at work soon based on the fact that his driver was able to navigate the way to reach their destination.
“I am at home, trying to prevent the water from entering in as I returned from the school run, ” stated Mrs. Funmilayo Ope, who added she had started catching cold and fear her health condition my be affected.
Also, it was gathered that a tree fell around Airport U-turn in Oshodi, causing a major traffic obstruction. But the timely intervention of the officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) helped to remove the fallen tree, that later paved the way for ease of vehicular moment around the area.
Government’s Response
In his reaction to the flood in a post on his X handle, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, informed that a team from the ministry had been deployed to monitor and clear the flash flood at the Olopomeji section of Iyana Oworo, which was seriously flooded as at the time.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources commended motorists for their patience and understanding, even as he declared that the law cation had been freed from obstruction caused by the flood.
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