The downpour, which lasted for about 10 hours in many parts of Lagos and Ogun states on Wednesday, resulting to flood, grounding business and commercial activities.
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.
The Lagos State government said the rain lasted for nine hours, in some parts of the state. It started at midnight and did not subside until noon, making it 12 hours.
Such places include Berger, Ikeja, Ogba and in some parts, the rain lasted for 10 hours.
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.
Major roads in Atan-Ota, Aseese, Ifo, Sango-Ota, and Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State were also submerged, making them impassable and leaving passengers stranded.
The heavy showers, which began around 12am, were blamed for the collapse of a two-storey building on Cameroon Road in the Mushin area of Lagos, injuring seven people.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that the seven victims were rescued alive from the collapsed structure.
He attributed the collapse of the newly constructed building to the inclement weather.
He said, “Early this morning, seven people were rescued alive from a building in Ewenla, Mushin, that collapsed in the inclement weather.
“Upon arrival of the LRT at the scene of the incident, it was discovered that a newly constructed two-storey building had collapsed. Three females and four males were rescued alive and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
“The agency’s search-and-rescue team had searched the rubbles and can confirm that there is no victim underneath the collapsed building. The area has been cordoned off, and operations are still ongoing.”
Flood: Ogun allays fears
The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, assured worried residents, stating that there was nothing to fret about.
“Just like we have stated in our flood alert issued to members of the public in April, the NIMET has said that between July 3rd to 13th, there will be flash flooding in some parts of the state because the rain would have been reaching its peak.
“The flood will appear when there is a downpour and disappear hours later. If you go back to where there have been reports of flooding in the morning, the water would have gone by now; it is a natural occurrence.
“The residents only have to be careful and ensure that they only go out when it is necessary. We should also ensure that we work on our drainages just like the state government has done to ensure there is a free flow of water,’’ he advised.
Vehicular movement was disrupted in places like Commercial Avenue, Reservation Road, Ikpopan, Aghobasiwin, Ihama and Adesua Road, all in the Government Reservation Area, due to flooding.
The road by the Prestige Hotel on Ihama Road and Aghobasiwin Street was rendered impassable.
However, vehicles were seen moving at a slow pace at Ikpopan, Reservation Road and Commercial Road close to the Government House and Nigeria Army, 4 Brigade.
