Residents of Lagos communities, including Oyadiran Estate in Yaba and Festac in Amuwo Odofin, are living in constant fear and frustration due to collapsed roads and perennial flooding. The once-serene neighborhoods have become nightmares, with knee-deep floods and blocked drainages causing widespread damage and disruption.
*The Situation on Ground*
- *Collapsed Roads*: Major roads in Festac, including First Avenue, Second Avenue, and Sixth Avenue, have collapsed, making them impassable.
- *Flooded Homes and Shops*: Residents recount how, within minutes of heavy downpour, streets turn into rivers, submerging ground-floor apartments and shops.
- *Health Concerns*: Stagnant water has become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, raising fears of malaria outbreaks ¹ ² ³.
*Residents' Lamentations*
- "It's a moment of agony passing through the road every day," said Kunle Adebayo, a resident.
- "The rain sweeps away goods worth thousands of Naira. I keep losing stock because of the flood," lamented Mike Ojo, a small business owner.
*Government Response*
The Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Bayo Adefuye, refused to comment on the issue, stating it couldn't be discussed over the phone. Residents are appealing to the government to address the situation, citing years of neglect and poor maintenance of drainage systems ¹ ² ³.
