Severe flooding swept through several communities in Lagos State on Tuesday after hours of heavy rainfall submerged homes, inundated major roads and disrupted electricity supply in parts of the state.

Residents in areas including FESTAC, Gbagada, Ajah, Ikeja, Evans, Olushi, Anikantamo and Adeniji Adele were left stranded as floodwaters overwhelmed drainage systems, forcing commuters to wade through waterlogged streets while motorists struggled to navigate submerged roads.

Videos circulating on social media showed residents moving through flooded streets, with some roads rendered impassable by rising water levels.

In Ikeja, floodwaters reportedly entered homes and business premises, prompting some residents to temporarily relocate for safety. Residents blamed the recurring flooding on blocked drainage channels, poor road design and indiscriminate refuse disposal.

A resident, Abidemi Raji, alleged that a drainage channel linking parts of the community had been obstructed following nearby construction activities, worsening the flooding situation.

The downpour also affected FESTAC in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, where roads and inner streets were submerged, disrupting movement and economic activities.

The flooding triggered electricity outages in several communities after floodwaters affected facilities at the Oworo 132/33kV Transmission Station. In a public notice, Ikeja Electric said severe flooding damaged two power transformers and several 33kV feeders, disrupting supply to areas including Bariga, Gbagada, Oworo, Pedro, Alapere, Agboyi and surrounding communities.

The company said it was working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria to restore power as soon as repairs were completed.

The impact of the heavy rainfall extended into neighbouring Ogun State, where residents of Gloryland Estate in Ibafo appealed for urgent government intervention, saying annual flooding had damaged buildings, disrupted transportation and exposed residents to health risks.

Reacting to the development, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, described the rainfall as an extreme weather event that temporarily overwhelmed existing drainage infrastructure.

He disclosed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had approved the dredging of 28 additional primary drainage channels across the state as part of measures to improve flood control and reduce the impact of future downpours.

Wahab noted that Lagos’ coastal geography, characterised by lagoons, rivers and tidal water bodies, often slows the discharge of stormwater into the sea during high tides, making temporary flooding likely during periods of intense rainfall.

He urged residents to refrain from dumping refuse into drainage channels, avoid illegal reclamation of wetlands and comply with environmental regulations designed to reduce flooding.

The commissioner also advised motorists to stay away from flooded roads during heavy rainfall and urged residents in vulnerable communities to adhere to weather advisories and safety guidelines issued by relevant authorities.

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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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Represented by their lawyer, Adetayo Bello Esq., the residents decried what they termed the FHA’s “alarming disregard for the rule of law.”

The controversy stems from a court injunction issued by Justice O.J. Awope of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on September 11, 2023. The order explicitly restrained the FHA and its agents from demolishing properties in FESTAC Town’s 6th Avenue and other areas pending the resolution of a substantive suit (ID/7397GCM/2023).

Despite this directive, residents allege that FHA officials have resumed demolitions, resulting in property damage and distress within the community.

“This act not only represents a contempt of court but also a criminal abuse of power that can endanger public peace,” the residents stated through their legal counsel.

The residents urged the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the FHA Zonal Manager and his associates for contempt of court and other alleged offences. They also appealed for immediate police intervention to halt further demolitions and safeguard their rights and properties.

The residents emphasized that the FHA’s actions undermine public trust in the judiciary and violate the fundamental rights of property owners in the area. They expressed hope that the IGP would act decisively to uphold the rule of law and restore order to the affected community.

Efforts to obtain a response from the FHA have so far been unsuccessful. Residents, however, continue to await the intervention of relevant authorities to address the situation.

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