Lagos, Sept. 19, 2025 (NAN)Some residents of Ago Palace Way and Ikorodu have decried the impact of flooding and poor waste management on their livelihoods, as heavy rains continued in Lagos State.
The residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that each downpour left homes, shops, and major roads submerged, cutting them off from essential services and threatening businesses.
According to residents, the situation is “frustrating and dangerous”.
Mrs Nkechi Ugo, a shop owner, said the rains had negatively affected her business, often destroying her goods.
“Whenever it rains for a long time, the road is flooded. Customers cannot come in, and sometimes my shop is filled with water.
“This situation has really affected my business, and if this continues, I may go out of business,” she said.
Mr Adewale Nuga, a tricycle operator, told NAN that he had to use alternative routes to convey his passengers, which cost more and affected his daily income.
He noted that the poor road network worsened traffic during the rainy period.
“Passengers avoid some areas because the flood is too deep.
“We have to look for alternative routes, which means less income for us,” he said.
Beyond flooding, residents complained about indiscriminate refuse dumping and the presence of dump sites along the road.
They said it had blocked drainage channels, aggravating the flooding.
Mr Chukwuma, a resident, noted that “People throw refuse into the drainage because waste trucks don’t come regularly.
“The dump site issue makes the flood worse and causes bad smell in the area.”
Also, some leaders in the community called on the Lagos state government and relevant agencies to provide lasting solutions.
According to them, the government can improve drainage, ensure regular waste disposal, and rehabilitate the Ago Palace Way roads.
Meanwhile, in Ikorodu, residents also lamented severe flooding that sacked homes and stranded commuters, following an early morning downpour.
They blamed the situation on delays in ongoing road construction.
NAN recalls that the contract was awarded to the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) in August 2022 and was road supposed to be completed in 22 months.
However,residents of the area abandoned their vehicles at home and waded through the flood to get to work.
Motorcycles and some cars could not access the areas due to the flooding.
Mr Chukwu, a commercial car driver, told NAN that his vehicle was damaged while attempting to cross the flood in the early hours of Monday morning.
“I picked up a passenger from Ikeja and we have been stuck here since 2 a.m..
“I really do not like to bring passengers to the Ikorodu axis because of the road, especially in this area,” Chukwu said.
Miss Olamide Precious, a student, said she was on her way to pick up her acceptance letter for her industrial attachment but had to abort the journey.
“My dad works on the Island, and I followed him to go and pick up my acceptance letter for my IT but when we got to First Mobil Junction, his car stopped in the water.
“I had to get down. If not for my dad holding me, I would have been swept off by the rain because it already covered me up to my waist.”
She urged the Lagos state government to speed up the work so that commuters could still access the roads even when it rainsed.
Mrs Funsho Oyejola noted that the rain had covered her entire compound since it started in the early hours of the day.
She added that the drainage in her area had been dug for some weeks but had not been connected.
“The people constructing this road are not serious. They will work today, and tomorrow you won’t see them again.
“They will just dig the gutters and leave them there without looking back. The cover that allows access to our street has been removed for a while, with no hope of when it would be replaced,” Oyejola
said.
She pleaded with the Lagos state government to check on the contractors to ensure the work is completed soon.
A food vendor, identified as Sekodun, said she would run at a loss due to the rain.
She revealed that another road construction handled by a different contractor was almost completed.
“Offin Road was awarded after this Igbogbo Baiyeku Road was awarded. Offin Road is almost completed, and the commuters are not suffering what we are experiencing during a downpour,” she said.
NAN reports that the affected areas include Igbogbo Baiyeku Road, South Gate School Junction, First Mobil Junction, Chairman Junction, and Awesu Junction.(NAN)
