Lagos calls for calm as flood submerges roads, houses, schools

Our reporter

Several parts of Lagos have been submerged following a downpour that started in the early hours of Wednesday.

The deluge, not only displaced residents, it took over major roads, leaving passengers stranded and motorists marooned.

Houses, schools and business places as well as markets presently underwater.

With the downpour, business owners, pupils and workers have struggled to get to their various workplaces.

A major artery like the Iyana-Oworo, Olopo Meji, leading to the 3rd Mainland Bridge is presently flooded, rendering the road almost impassable and causing gridlock that extends to the Alapere axis.

An X user who tweets anonymously as #JayNaijaTv shared a video of the flooded area with the caption, “Iyana-Oworo, Olopo Meji area heading to 3rd Mainland Bridge this morning is completely flooded, causing long traffic that extends to Alapere.”

Several houses and roads were submerged by the flood in the Ago, Okota and Oke-Afa areas of the state.

This is even as sections of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway were cut off on both sides by the flood, causing a heavy traffic jam

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has appealed to residents not to panic and remain calm, stressing that the “flash flood” would recede with time.

Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, attributed the flood to the state’s topography and climate change.

He said, “The Agency and other key responders are on high alert in case of any emergency. We urging the good people of Lagos to remain calm and refrain from any non-essential travel due to the incidence of flash floods across the State. They are already beginning to dissipate,”

The LASEMA boss assured that the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of Lagos residents.

He, however, warned against indiscriminate waste disposal and constructions along water channels, noting that such would further exacerbate flooding in the state.

 

 

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