Some Lagos residents are counting their losses after torrential rain flooded homes, destroyed businesses, trapped families and disrupted movement across several communities in the state.
The residents of this coastal and commercial capital of Nigeria, told journalists on Friday in Lagos that the flooding forced families away from their homes, destroyed livelihoods and left many appealing for urgent government’s intervention.
Some of the worst affected businesses is a poultry farm in Lekki Scheme II and the owner, Mr. Alex said that he had been trapped indoors for three days as floodwaters submerged his compound and destroyed his poultry farm.
“For over three days, I couldn’t go out. I’m on my bed right now because everywhere is flooded,” he said.
Alex said that he watched helplessly as floodwaters overwhelmed his poultry pens, killing chicks and causing heavy financial losses.
“I’m looking at my chickens dying. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. The eggs I managed to recover, I boiled them to eat,” he lamented.
Another resident, who has lived in the area for more than 10 years, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the flooding was unprecedented and that Lekki Scheme II had previously been relatively free from flooding.
He attributed the situation to inadequate drainage and alleged that developers had built over a major canal, restricting the natural flow of storm water.
“Those developers built on top of the canal. They narrowed it and turned it into a gutter. That’s why we’re suffering this flood,” he said.
Alex urged the authorities to complete the ongoing canal project to prevent similar disasters.
Another resident, Mr Johnson of Ajiran, Lekki, told NAN that floodwater entered his apartment around 4:00 a.m., forcing his family to seek refuge in a neighbour’s upstairs apartment.
“We had to wake the children and move them to safety because the water kept rising. We have not slept properly since then,” he said.
Johnson said that the flood damaged household property, including a refrigerator, mattress, electronics, food items and his children’s school books.
According to him, although flooding occurs almost every rainy season, this year’s incident ranks among the worst the community has experienced.
“I couldn’t go to work, and my children could not go to school. It means lost income and missed classes,” he said.
He also expressed concern over possible outbreaks of waterborne and mosquito-borne diseases.
The flooding also affected Ikotun area of Lagos, Ebute Metta among others and the residents Kehinde have urged the Lagos State Government to carry out continuous desilting of canals and improve drainage infrastructure in flood-prone communities.
GIK/APA