Lagos flooding: FG begins drainage clearing on federal roads

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered the desilting of drainages along federal roads in Lagos State with a view to deflooding the highways.

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday.

The directive came after business and commercial activities were grounded on Wednesday following a 10-hour downpour in many parts of Lagos and Ogun states.

The resulting flooding brought down a two-storey building in the Mushin area of Lagos, grounded vehicular movement on the roads, and overwhelmed thousands of residents while pupils could not attend schools in parts of the states.

Our correspondents, who visited some affected flooded areas such as Iyana-Oworo, Agege, Ijegun-Isheri Osun, Gbagada and Lagos Island in Lagos State, observed that roads and houses were flooded as a result of long hours of downpour.

Other flooded places in Lagos include Eredo, Bojije, Epe, Sangotedo, Ibeju-Lekki, Awoyaya, Labora, and Abijon.

But the Federal Controller of Works, Kesha, said Lagos State was not experiencing widespread submergence from floodwaters.

She, however, admitted that “localised flooding” affected certain sections of federal roads within the city, hence the need to clear the drainages.

She said, “We wish to clarify that contrary to some reports, Lagos is not experiencing widespread submergence from floodwaters.

“However, the ministry acknowledges that localised flooding has affected certain sections of federal roads within the city.

“The minister has directed the desilting of drains along federal roads in the state with a view to deflooding the highways .

“Our teams are currently deployed to assess the situation while the desilting of drains along the affected roads are currently being carried out.

“The ministry understands the inconvenience caused by these flash floods and is committed to eliminating the disruptions caused thereafter.”