Residents of Ayinke Street in the Shogunle area of Oshodi, Lagos State, are counting their losses after Sunday’s flooding destroyed household property, damaged vehicles, and disrupted businesses.
Residents said the flooding worsened after a section of a perimeter fence collapsed onto a major street, obstructing the free flow of floodwater and causing it to overflow into nearby homes.
During a visit to the community, damaged household items, including sofas, mattresses, clothing, television sets, chairs, and other belongings, were seen spread outside homes to dry.
Some affected vehicles also suffered extensive damage, including shattered windscreens, while heaps of refuse carried by the flood littered parts of the street.
The collapsed perimeter fence, along with bricks, mud, and other debris, blocked sections of the road, forcing residents to clear the area themselves.
Residents have appealed to the Lagos State Government to provide relief materials to help cushion the impact of the losses caused by the flooding.
One landlord, identified simply as Moses, blamed the incident on the blockage of a drainage channel during an environmental sanitation exercise, which he said contributed to the flooding.
One of the affected residents, identified simply as Moses, has blamed the flooding in the Shogunle area of Lagos on blocked drainage channels following an environmental sanitation exercise.
Recalling the incident, Moses said residents were still outdoors despite the heavy rainfall, with people disposing of refuse and vehicles moving through the area at about 2 a.m.
According to him, workers were clearing weeds and cutting down banana trees around the Air Force perimeter fence during the sanitation exercise.
He explained that the debris may have blocked drainage openings beneath the fence, preventing floodwater from flowing freely.
Moses said as the water level continued to rise, the pressure caused the perimeter fence to collapse, sending floodwater into nearby homes.
He added that every house in the area was affected, with household electronics, furniture, and other valuables destroyed by the flood.
Moses also said two of his vehicles were damaged, including one that was struck by a falling pole during the incident.
He maintained that the fence did not collapse on its own but gave way after the blocked drainage caused floodwater to build up.
Residents affected by the recent flooding in parts of Lagos State have continued to count their losses, with many calling on the state government to provide relief and improve drainage infrastructure.
One resident, Moses, blamed the incident on poor drainage management, insisting that the flooding could have been prevented if waterways had been properly cleared to allow floodwater to flow freely.
He said the disaster affected every household in the area, destroying property belonging to both ground-floor and upstairs residents.
Another resident and shop owner, Bukola Fagbenro, said the flood caught residents by surprise and swept away her business stock.
According to her, bags of garri stored inside her home were washed away as floodwater entered every house in the neighbourhood.
She added that several vehicles were damaged, while others were swept into a nearby canal before they were later recovered after the flood subsided.
Fagbenro noted that the community had never experienced flooding of such magnitude, explaining that the collapse of the perimeter fence, combined with refuse and debris blocking the canal, prevented floodwater from draining as it normally would.
Another resident, Chioma, said the rainfall initially appeared normal but the situation became worse after the Air Force perimeter fence collapsed, allowing large volumes of floodwater to surge into surrounding homes.
Josephine, another victim, said she was away from home when the flooding occurred but returned to discover that all her belongings had been destroyed.
In another affected community on Fakorede Street in the Shomolu area of Lagos, food vendor Mrs. Sajudeen said heavy rainfall that began on Saturday night continued into Sunday, leaving homes submerged and businesses unable to operate.
She said floodwater entered residential buildings, making it impossible for many families to save their belongings. Her children’s school books were destroyed, while the flooding also forced her to suspend her food business and kept her children away from school.
Mrs. Sajudeen blamed the flooding on blocked drainage channels, poor waste disposal, and refuse dumped into gutters and canals.
She appealed to the Lagos State Government to strengthen environmental sanitation, ensure regular clearing of drainage channels, and enforce compliance by monitoring neighbourhoods and sanctioning residents who dispose of waste improperly.
