Persistent rainfall on Sunday afternoon caused significant flash flooding throughout Lagos, leaving commuters and motorists stuck for hours. Between noon and 3 p.m., heavy downpours submerged key routes such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ikorodu Road, and the Lekki-Epe Expressway. Many vehicles were abandoned or suffered mechanical failures due to the rising water levels.
Local motorists like Johnson Alaba pointed to obstructed drainage systems as the primary reason for the stagnant water, which halted traffic flow in areas like the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. These events followed prior warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency regarding impending storms.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, calmed public concerns by describing the water accumulation as a temporary effect of intense weather. He attributed the drainage backups to high tide levels in the lagoon, which prevent stormwater from exiting the city’s drainage channels until the tide recedes. Wahab emphasized that the state’s ongoing drainage maintenance and waste management policies are functioning as intended. He urged citizens to stop dumping waste and building on drainage setbacks, noting that government investment in infrastructure has significantly lessened the impact of floods compared to previous years.
