* Raging Flood Sweeps Motorcycle Rider Into Lagos Canal On Saturday Morning
By Agency Reporters
Hundreds of motorists and passengers going to Mile 2 were on Saturday stranded as flood from a morning downpour disrupted free movement on the trade fair and Abule-Ado axis of Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that flood from the downpour blocked the trade fair axis, temporarily impeding movement of vehicles on the expressway.
NAN also reports that the rainfall, which started at 5.00.a.m and continued for hours, forced many passengers to come down from commercial vehicles and resort to trekking from Abule-Ado to Barracks in Ojo.
Some passengers and motorists urged the Lagos State Government to clear the drainage to avert such flood incidents.
Mrs Ibironke Adegboyega, a trader in Ebute-Aro, Lagos Island, said that the flood had prevented her from going to open her shop.
Another passengers trying to cross from one side of Lagos Badagry expressway to the other during the downpour on Saturday.
“The flood has completely blocked the expressway, some vehicles that tried to access the road had been trapped in the flood.
“The drainage is blocked by plastics and nylon preventing the passage of the water.
“Lagos government should wake up to its responsibility and clear the drainage, they should also warn the traders against indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
“I have to go back home now because it is dangerous to force your way in there due to the flood,” she said.
Mr Toyosi Stephen, a passenger, said the blockage of the expressway was due to the way the contractor handling the project constructed the road.
“One will see that from Abule-Ado down to Trade fair axis is very sloppy making water to gather under the bridge.
“This also applies to when you are coming from Barracks down to Trade fair, so the water coming from Abule-Ado and Barracks will gather at trade fair and block the movement of vehicles and passengers.
“Government should work on this and also ensure clearing of drainage around this place all the time.
“I have been trapped here, I have to go back to Agbara and sleep,” he said.
The blockage at Trade fair axis of Lagos Badagry expressway.
Mr Mutiu Suru, a bus conductor, said the flood would reduce when the rain stopped and that vehicles and passengers would be able to move freely on the expressway.
“The rain is heavy, that’s why the flood blocked the road, but I can tell you that in an hour’s time, vehicles will start going.
“All we need to do is to exercise patience and relax in our vehicles,” he said.
NAN reports that the floods also affected communities in Badagry including Mowo, Ikoga, Ansarudeen, Ajara-Vetho, Aghelaso and Zogakome areas.
Meanwhile, tragedy struck in the Ile-Epo area of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos on Saturday as a motorcycle rider was swept into a canal by flood resulting from a morning downpour.
Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Territorial Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Farinloye said that the rider, simply called Mr Abe, was swept off after refusing to heed to warnings from his colleagues not to ride during the rain, close to the Ile Epo Bus-stop canals in the area.
He said that the incident happened around 10.30a.m. and the victim had yet to be recovered as of the time he was speaking.
Meanwhile, the rainfall, which started early in the day and lasted for hours, also led to flood affecting residents in Papa Ashafa and Fashola communities, in Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
Farinloye said that some people displaced were taking refuge in four churches in the area.
“Some vulnerable groups have moved to temporary safe facilities, while the adults are salvaging their water-impacted properties.
“NEMA is assisting the owner of a building where the fence collapsed,” he said.
He said that there was the need to salvage the building by reconstructing the fence to solidify the base, to prevent it from collapsing on a nearby bungalow.
Farinloye said that the Director-General, of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed, had directed the immediate release of relief materials to the affected flood victims in Lagos.
“Children wears, women wears, mattresses, antiseptics and other immediate assistance to the impacted population at Orile-Agege Local Government Area to provide immediate succour to about 200 people this afternoon are being loaded currently, ” Farinloye said.
He appealed to Lagos residents to take utmost precautions during such heavy rainfall.
Farinloye said that NEMA and other emergency agencies were on assessment exercise at some flash points, and discussed with affected populations, proffering immediate solutions in handling such situations.
Meanwhile a resident of the area, Mr Ibrahim Mufta, told NAN that the area was in terrible condition, while calling both Federal and Lagos State governments to come to their aid. (source: NAN). NNL.
