Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands

Lagos rain displaces families

FLOOD took its toll on Lagos yesterday as property worth millions of naira were submerged after a heavy downpour in most parts of the metropolis.

Houses and vehicles were destroyed even as many families were displaced with their homes flooded.

Areas worse hit are Ikate, Lawanson and Surulere, Orile, Ijora and Ikoyi.

Vehicular movement was crippled as many people, particularly worshippers who were returning from church service got stranded. Cars were submerged at Surulere, Idi-Oro in Mushin, Idi-Araba near Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Aguda.

Other areas affected were Ojuelegba, Badia, Sari-Iganmu and highbrow Victoria Island.

Most of the roads were covered by dirts from street gutters. The rain led to a heavy traffic on the ever busy Ikorodu Road linking Western Avenue and Apapa Road. Other routes in the metropolis were not spared as vehicles drove bumper to bumper.

Yesterday flooding of the metropolis re-enacted the perennial natural phenomenon in the state ostensibly caused by its poor drainage.

Harry Awurumibe, Staff Reporter, The Guardian - 19 June 2000