Hundreds of residents in the Ayobo axis of Lagos were yesterday trapped after the early morning rain flooded the Marwa Bridge and submerged their homes.
Areas like Abule-Egba, Aguda, and Agege, experienced flash flooding.
It was gathered that in Ayobo axis, the rain flooded the Marwa bridge causing the metals holding the bridge to cave in thereby causing difficulty for school children and others going to work
Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Fire Services, police and other stakeholders, rushed to the scene to prevent a stampede as the residents were already panicking.
Aside from the bridge, it was also gathered that scores of houses and cars were submerged with occupants fleeing their homes for fear of drowning.
It was learnt that the affected communities in the axis included Oke Ishagun, Isale Aboru, Ikola, Olubodun Majiyagbe-Ajayi, Makinde Street, Olokowo Street and Adeola Street.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos Office Coordinator of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said that 151 houses were affected by the flood, adding that there was no loss of lives or injury.
He said the emergency workers were able to hold the bridge and also organize the people for ease of evacuation, noting that while some of them were successfully moved from their submerged homes, others were still there, against advice.
Farinloye said 23 houses were affected at Oke Ishagun, 35 at Isale Aboru, 29 at Ikola, 15 at Olubodun Majiyagbe-Ajayi, 12 at Makinde, 16 at Olokowo and 21 houses at Adeola.
He urged residents to prepare for the rainy season, noting that the incidents of Sunday and yesterday should serve as a pointer for what to expect this year.
“It is important to imbibe the culture of disaster risk reduction strategies in all spheres of our societal endeavours. We must begin adhering to safety measures against flood disasters.
“Thanks be to God that no life was lost and no one was injured. What we witnessed the most was the disruption of the normal lives of the people.
“NEMA is working with the appropriate state MDAs in amelioration of observations and findings from today’s incident and the state has promised to make sure no stone is unturned to make the state safer.
“The Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed, hereby appeals to Nigerians to start clearing their drainages of dirt and desilt them. Community Development Associations should live up to their responsibilities in coordinating the activities of neighbourhoods toward safer environments,
“Local Government Authorities must not spare the rods against corporate organisations blocking the drainages while people must be prosecuted for blockage of drainages, dumping of refuse in drainages as envisaged in environmental laws to save the society.
“The Director General expressed his support of the Lagos State Government’s bold decision after the 2023 rainy season by pulling down drainage obstructing structures across various parts of the state”.
