By Rukayat Moisemhe
Residents and commuters along the Mobil Road axis in Ajah, Lagos, have raised concern over persistent flooding, saying it disrupts movement, strands schoolchildren and delays emergency services.
The residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the situation had worsened following recent rainfall and called on the Lagos State Government and relevant agencies to intervene urgently.
They said the road became severely flooded whenever it rained, in spite of the earlier warnings by the state government to residents of flood-prone communities.
Mr Michael Anifowoshe, Creative Art Director of New House Parish, said relevant environmental authorities should have put preventive measures in place before the onset of the rainy season.
Anifowoshe attributed the flooding to clogged drainage channels along Mobil Road and poor environmental practices by some road users.
He described the condition as unbearable and dangerous to lives and property.
“It used to take only a heavy rainstorm to cause flooding, but now even moderate rainfall leaves residents without access to the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
“The alternative route through Laurel Stephens Road is also heavily affected. Although some canals are being worked on, progress has been too slow,” he said.
Anifowoshe questioned why a major canal along the road was no longer draining floodwater effectively.
According to him, the channel may have been blocked by sand and debris, preventing the free flow of water.
“This is the worst period for motorists. We are appealing to the government and relevant authorities to clear the blocked drainage channels to restore the free flow of water,” he said.
Another commuter, Mr Moses Isioma, said school buses were frequently trapped in the flooded road, while ambulances and other emergency vehicles often could not access the area.
“Whenever it rains, movement becomes almost impossible.
“Children are stranded on their way to and from school, ambulances cannot pass and people are forced to remain indoors for hours, sometimes days, until the water recedes,” he said.
Isioma urged the Lagos State Government to address the recurring flooding, which he said continued to hinder movement and pose health risks.
Ms Charity Silas, a businesswoman, said the flooding had adversely affected business activities and household routines.
According to her, rainfall often disrupts plans to take her children to school and prevents her from opening her shop.
She added that floodwater usually submerges parts of the road, delaying workers and reducing customer turnout.
Silas also expressed concern over possible disease outbreaks, noting that residents were regularly forced to wade through contaminated water.
“The water is filthy and people step into it every day.
“It can cause skin infections and other health problems. It is a disaster waiting to happen,” she said.
Silas urged the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies to inspect the drainage infrastructure and carry out immediate intervention before the peak of the rainy season.
“This is the time for the state government to act before the rains become heavier and intervention becomes more difficult,” she said. (NAN)
