Heavy downpour floods Lagos again

LAGOS—An afternoon downpour across Lagos yesterday flooded parts of the metropolis, causing serious gridlocks on major roads. Commuters and motorists plying the ever-busy Oshodi-Apapa Expressway saw hell as they were trapped in the gridlock for several hours as a result of the flooding of the dual carriageway. On Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, the situation was also pathetic as traffic snarl stretched from Ojodu/Berger to Ogudu following the flood on the highway. Motorists and commuters plying the popular Ikorodu Road inward Western Avenue were not spared of the traffic nightmare arising from the flooded road. Reports from various parts of the metropolis revealed that major roads in Alimosho Local Government Area, the Agege Motor Road, parts of Ikeja and Ogba were also flooded. Parts of Surulere, Iganmu, Orile and Ajegunle were also not spared by the floods that took over the entire areas. The flood, which created bottlenecks forced commuters to be stranded at bus-stops and causing many to arrive their destinations behind schedules. Also, several vehicles, which could not withstand the enormity of the flood, were stuck in the flood. Not unexpectedly, yesterday’s heavy downpour in Lagos prevented many picnickers from enjoying their Easter Sunday fun in various centres across the metropolis. At the Bar Beach, Victoria Island, it was noticed that many families that came to catch fun remained inside their vehicles, while others scurried in search of shelter. Mr Adewale Esan, a civil servant, who lives at Onikan, said he brought his entire family, who were visiting Lagos for the first time, to catch fun at the beach. “My family is just visiting this place for the first time but it is unfortunate that the heavy rainfall has denied us the opportunity to catch fun here. “Anyway, we can still come around here tomorrow, if the weather condition is conducive,” he said. Mrs Stella Okeke, a food vendor at the beach, said the rainfall had prevented them from making good sales. “Most of our customers have run away, due to the heavy downpour. There is flood everywhere; I don’t think that majority of the picnickers that left here will come back again. “Yesterday, we recorded good sales and that encouraged us to cook more food today but see what the rain has caused us,” she lamented. At the National Theatre, Iganmu, the situation was the same as families were seen under the Nigerian Brewery kiosks sheltering themselves from the rain. Some of the picnickers said they were waiting for the rain to stop, so that they could return home. Mrs Florence Akinfenwa, a resident of Surulere, said the rain had prevented her from relaxing with her family. “As you can see, what I did was to take my family inside Mr Biggs at the theatre and buy them snacks. We can’t blame God for the rain. “We are travelling to Abeokuta to celebrate with my in-laws tomorrow,” she added. Mr Tunde Jinadu, a trader, said that even with the rain, he would still enjoy the holiday. “I have prepared myself for the rain; I will not leave this National Theatre until later in the night,” he said.