Heavy rainfall on Wednesday has left residents of Shadia Estate in Gbagada, Lagos grappling with widespread flooding, prompting calls for urgent government intervention.
Eyewitness video footage posted on social media showed the distressing scene, with floodwaters completely submerging homes in the low-lying community situated near a local canal. The user, who identified themself as a Gbagada resident, pleaded for the Lagos State Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, to clear the blocked canal and prevent further damage.
“Shadia Estate by the canal (Sholuyi Gbagada) is totally flooded and most houses are submerged because the canal had been stagnant & it’s overflowing back into the road and houses,” the social media user wrote. “Please help us clear the canals to prevent loss of properties and lives.”
Responding to the plea, Commissioner Wahab acknowledged the situation and promised that it would be “addressed soon.” However, residents remain deeply concerned about the impact of the floods, which have left many households stranded and at risk of property damage or even loss of life.
Local authorities must now act swiftly to clear the blocked drainage infrastructure and provide relief assistance to the affected Shadia Estate community. Failure to resolve this flooding crisis could have grave consequences for vulnerable families in the area.