Residents of several communities in Lagos on Tuesday counted their losses after persistent rainfall triggered widespread flooding that submerged homes and roads, displaced families and disrupted businesses, schools and daily activities.
The affected areas include Ago Palace Way, Okota Road, Amuwo Odofin and Ilaje in Ajah, where rising floodwaters left many residents stranded and made movement difficult.
Residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) described the flooding as a recurring ordeal and urged the government to implement lasting measures to tackle the problem.
Mrs. Stella, a resident of Ago Palace Way, identified Greenfield Estate as one of the worst-hit locations whenever heavy rain falls.
“Greenfield Estate is prone to flooding. Despite being an expensive estate, it is always badly affected whenever heavy rain falls,” she said.
She added that Community Road, Supersaver, Kilimanjaro and the Ago Bridge–Apple Junction corridor were also severely flooded, forcing many motorists to avoid the route.
“The water was so high that buses struggled to pass. You could feel the waves pushing the buses,” she said.
According to Stella, floodwaters entered many homes, compelling residents to pump water out of their buildings while others hurriedly raised furniture and household items to minimise damage.
She said some families had already been displaced and warned that continued rainfall could worsen the situation.
In Amuwo Odofin, another resident, Sarah Onyeachonam, said the flooding had confined many residents to their homes and prevented them from reporting to work.
“I’ve not been able to go to work since Monday. Everybody’s just indoors. Everywhere is flooded,” she said.
She noted that several roads had become impassable, while homes—especially those located behind the estate—were inundated.
Describing the situation as an annual occurrence, Onyeachonam appealed for urgent government intervention.
“We are tired of watching our homes flood every year. This is no longer a seasonal challenge; it needs to be addressed,” she said.
Another resident, Chiazo, said she narrowly escaped falling from a commercial motorcycle while taking her children to school because floodwaters had concealed deep potholes along Community Road.
“We can’t even tell where the potholes are because the whole place is flooded. Community Road is like a pond,” she said, blaming blocked drainage channels and poor road conditions for the persistent flooding.
In Ilaje, Ajah, resident Blessing said heavy rainfall had submerged roads across the community.
“Everywhere is flooded because of the rain. The streets are under water,” she said, adding that residents had become accustomed to flooding during the rainy season.
The flooding also forced a private school in Ajah to suspend academic activities on Tuesday over safety concerns.
In a notice seen by NAN, the school said flooded roads and overflowing drainage channels had made access unsafe for pupils and staff, adding that the temporary closure was necessary to protect lives.
Residents have appealed to the Lagos State Government and relevant agencies to clear blocked drainage channels, rehabilitate damaged roads and implement sustainable flood-control measures to prevent recurring devastation in vulnerable communities.
