Heavy rainfall on Monday brought activities to a standstill in several parts of Lagos, leaving commuters stranded, forcing residents to wade through flooded streets and prompting a sharp increase in transport fares.
Residents who spoke separately with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) described the downpour as one of the heaviest in recent weeks, saying it disrupted movement, delayed business activities and reduced productivity across the city.
For many workers, the morning commute turned into a gruelling experience as flooded roads, heavy traffic and overcrowded buses made travel difficult.
Mrs Olaide Moshood, a resident of Ikorodu, said transport fares typically rise whenever it rains, placing additional financial pressure on residents already struggling with the high cost of living.
“My transport fare increases by at least N1,500 whenever it rains. Today’s rain was something else,” she said.
Mrs Stella Okoye, who commutes from Costain, recounted wading through knee-deep floodwaters to reach her workplace.
“I had to wade through knee-deep water to get to my office this morning,” she said, describing the experience as a recurring challenge during periods of heavy rainfall.
Similarly, Mrs Gloria Onuoha, who travelled from the Cele area, said traffic congestion around Orile turned what should have been a three-to-five-minute trip to Costain into a 25-minute journey.
“Something that would normally take three to five minutes to Costain took us about 25 minutes, and I got to work late,” she said, blaming the delay on severe gridlock caused by the downpour.
Another commuter, Mrs Lilian, said flooding and traffic congestion combined to make her journey particularly stressful.
“It took me 45 minutes to get to Costain from Orile. The disruption will affect my productivity at work today,” she said.
She added that despite wearing a raincoat, she arrived at work soaked, while transport operators also increased fares because of the weather.
Mr Gbolahan Bello, a resident of Ayobo near the Ogun-Lagos border, said heavy rainfall regularly disrupts movement within his community.
“When it rains, the river rises, but I still have to get to work somehow,” he said, calling on authorities to implement measures to reduce flooding in vulnerable communities.
Also speaking, Mrs Oluchi Uzoma, who lives in Fantasy Island on the outskirts of Sango near Agbado, blamed indiscriminate waste disposal for the persistent flooding affecting her area.
According to her, floodwaters have cut off communities, damaged roads and disrupted businesses.
“The rain has cut us off. We can hardly go anywhere because our roads are no longer motorable,” she said.
She noted that erosion had created deep, water-filled potholes that pose serious risks to both motorists and pedestrians.
“If you’re not careful, the next minute you’ll land in a pothole filled with water. It’s better to stay home until the rain subsides,” she added.
Uzoma said many residents now choose to remain indoors during heavy rainfall, while businesses that depend on customer visits continue to suffer low patronage.
She attributed the recurring flooding to blocked drainage channels clogged with refuse and sand.
“People throw waste on the roads and inside gutters. The gutters are now filled with sand and rubbish, so water no longer flows,” she said.
She urged residents to dispose of waste responsibly and keep drainage channels clear to help minimise flooding.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has advised residents to remain alert, warning that rainfall and thunderstorms are expected to continue across Lagos and other parts of southern Nigeria.
The agency said thunderstorms could be preceded by strong winds and urged motorists to drive carefully as roads may become slippery and visibility poor.
NiMet also advised residents to avoid flooded roads and drainage channels and warned against taking shelter under trees or near power lines during thunderstorms.
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