Residents of Ajah, Mafoluku and other flood-prone communities in Lagos have narrated the hardship they endured after Thursday’s torrential rainfall submerged roads, flooded homes and disrupted movement across several parts of the state.

The affected residents called on the Lagos State Government to urgently address the recurring flooding, which they blamed on inadequate drainage infrastructure and poor maintenance of existing channels.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a resident of Ajah, Mrs. Rukayat, said floodwaters covered a long stretch of Muri Okunola Road, forcing commuters to wade through waist-deep water to reach their destinations.

“The water level was almost up to my lap. People literally had to wade through it to get home,” she said.

According to her, many motorists were forced to turn back, while others abandoned their vehicles and continued their journeys on foot as the road became impassable.

She added that tricycles were the only means of transportation available in some areas, but many broke down while attempting to navigate the flooded roads.

“The only way to pass through the water was by walking or using a tricycle. Even then, the tricycles broke down and had to be pushed,” she explained.

Rukayat said residents had repeatedly reported the flooding challenge to relevant authorities but little had been done to provide a lasting solution.

She attributed the situation to blocked drainage channels and poor water flow through a major canal serving the area.

“There is a big canal here, but I don’t know what is preventing water from flowing through it properly,” she said, adding that overgrown vegetation and sand deposits might be obstructing the channel.

In Mafoluku, residents also recounted how the heavy rainfall left streets and homes submerged, stranding many people for hours.

A resident of Agboola Street, Mrs. Iriagbonse Okunkpolor, said she was unable to return home after stepping out to purchase household items before the downpour began.

“I left my house to buy a few items nearby, but the rain started suddenly and flooded the entire street. I was stranded for hours because there was no safe way back home,” she said.

Another resident, Mr. Mukaila Idris, described the flood as both dangerous and frightening, noting that the strong current forced some residents to seek assistance before crossing flooded areas.

“The current was very strong. I watched people pay young men to carry them across the water because they were afraid of being swept away or falling,” he said.

According to him, only physically fit residents could move through the floodwaters safely, while many others had to wait for hours until the water level receded.

Mr. Williams Ekpo, who resides in the Eyinogun area, said the flooding extended beyond roads and entered residential compounds, causing damage to household property.

“The floodwater entered our compound and damaged some household items. This happens almost every rainy season, yet nothing seems to be done to address the drainage problem,” he lamented.

The residents appealed to the state government and relevant agencies to investigate the persistent flooding and implement lasting drainage and flood-control measures to protect lives and property during the rainy season.

The latest incident comes amid growing concerns over flooding in several parts of Lagos as heavy rains continue to batter the state, raising fears of further disruptions and property losses if urgent interventions are not undertaken.

The post Lagos Flooding: Residents Stranded as Heavy Rain Submerges Ajah, Mafoluku appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Residents of Festac Town in the Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State have raised concerns over the alleged sale of critical public infrastructure, warning that the development could pose serious environmental, health and security risks within the estate.

The residents, under the umbrella of the Take Back Festac Movement, staged a peaceful protest on Saturday, accusing the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) of disposing of facilities originally designated for public use, including sewage treatment plants, waterworks, parks and buffer zones.

Speaking during the protest, the group’s president, Valentine Uduebo, described the alleged transactions as a threat to the future of the estate and called on President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene.

According to him, several sewage treatment facilities located across different parts of Festac Town had allegedly been sold to private interests.

“This facility behind us is a sewage management facility that serves residents in this area, yet it has been sold. The new owners intend to build food-related businesses on land meant for sewage management,” he alleged.

Uduebo also claimed that the estate’s Waterworks facility on 22 Road, as well as parks and recreational spaces, had been sold, warning that the loss of such infrastructure could negatively affect residents’ quality of life.

He further accused authorities of imposing multiple charges on property owners, alleging that residents are subjected to duplicate fees from both Lagos State agencies and the FHA.

“People pay building approval fees to Lagos State and are still required to make additional payments to the FHA. Residents see this as double taxation and extortion,” he said.

Health and Environmental Concerns

A medical practitioner and resident, Dr. Dumebi Owa, warned that converting sewage treatment facilities to other uses could create serious public health challenges.

“Sewage is meant to be properly managed and disposed of. If it is not properly handled, we risk outbreaks of diseases and serious public health challenges,” she said.

She also expressed concern over the alleged sale of parks and green spaces, noting that such developments could worsen environmental degradation and climate-related impacts.

Residents Demand Reversal of Sales

Another resident, James Ibekwe, who said he has lived in Festac Town since 1977, described the alleged transactions as a violation of the estate’s original master plan.

“We want the relevant authorities to act responsibly and revoke these sales. These sales are illegal, unconstitutional, null and void,” he said.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in Amuwo-Odofin, Monsuru Salam, alleged that a security post on 51 Road serving multiple security zones had also been sold, raising concerns about security within the community.

FHA Dismisses Allegations

Reacting to the protest, FHA spokesperson Kenneth Chigelu dismissed the allegations and questioned why the protesters had not formally engaged the authority before going public.

“It has become a norm for people to wake up and start protests simply for publicity. Have they taken the time to come to the authority and channel their complaints?” he said.

Chigelu maintained that many of the issues raised predated the current administration and argued that some of the facilities cited by protesters had long ceased functioning.

“As for the sewage treatment facilities, the central system collapsed a long time ago. Have they shown you functioning treatment plants?” he queried.

He advised aggrieved residents to channel their complaints through recognised structures, including the Festac Town Residents Association, which he identified as the FHA’s official partner for community engagement.

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Residents of the Natufe/Animashaun Community Development Area in Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday, staged a peaceful protest against the proposed construction of a cemetery in their neighborhood.

The large plot of land earmarked for the project sits along Babs Animashaun Street, bordered by homes, a school, and a church. Holding placards and chanting “No to the cemetery,” the protesters said the development would endanger public health and degrade their environment.

Chairperson of the community, Alhaja Omolabake Braimoh, said residents had earlier resisted similar plans two years ago. “This is a residential area with schools, churches, and families. We depend on borehole water, and the cemetery will contaminate our land and water,” she said.

Braimoh alleged that a government stakeholder meeting held at Eko Club was done without genuine community representation. “They claimed 60% of us agreed to the project, but those who attended were not from our area,” she stated, adding that letters had been sent to the Coker-Aguda LCDA and more would go to relevant state agencies.

Former CDA chairman Olarenwaju Olaniyan also condemned the plan, urging the state to approve projects that promote growth instead of harm. “We’ve lived here for over 50 years. This project will pollute our boreholes and destroy lives. The governor should intervene,” he appealed.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, said during a recent stakeholders’ meeting that the proposed cemetery was designed to address the shortage of burial spaces in Surulere. He explained that the site met planning standards, with features such as CCTV surveillance, street lighting, drainage, and a 20-metre setback from nearby buildings.

Olumide emphasised that inclusive dialogue was key to resolving such disputes, noting that Lagos’ limited land space required “creativity and collaboration” in urban planning.

The protest highlights the broader challenge of balancing community welfare with Lagos’ growing demand for essential public infrastructure.

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