Residents groan, count losses as flood wreaks havoc in Ogun, Lagos
Property owners, traders, and residents of Lagos and Ogun States are currently counting the losses they suffered due to flooding.
The affected people across different local government areas in the two states said the unending rainfall of the past few days has exposed them to flooding.
According to them, some properties have been submerged by water, leaving many with no other option than to relocate to a safe place. Others have lost valuables, that were either carried away or completely destroyed by the rain that fell over the weekend.
While they acknowledge that flooding is a natural occurrence, the people submitted that, with a good road network and proper channelization, it can be lessened and effectively curtailed.
Landlords and residents of Area 8, OPIC Estate, Agbara, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State have called on the state government to rescue them from their plight.
In a letter to Governor Dapo Abiodun, they described their condition as an ‘impending disaster’.
The letter, which was jointly signed by the Chairman and Assistant Secretary of the Estate, Adebowale Odunayo, and Iziokhai Ohioze respectively, called the attention of the government to “the ravaging effect of incessant flooding that our community has been experiencing over time.”
According to them, the incident has been “formally reported to OPIC Management on several occasions, but each visit ended with promises that remain unfulfilled, leaving residents to the vagaries of nature.”
On Lagos Island, many residents of Lekki, Lakowe, and Ajah also lamented how the flood swept through various streets and caused traffic along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
In the same way, major parts of the Under Bridge area of Trade Fair, along Badagry Expressway, were plunged by the flood.
Many makeshift structures were destroyed, and residents were seen wading through the murky waters to get to their destinations.
A trader who deals in soaps and cosmetics in the area said he woke up to find out that his shop had been flooded.
“I just offloaded some fresh goods on Friday. Now look at what the floods have done. Everything is gone!” he lamented.
