Crying Heaven resulted into Traffic Gridlock in most part of Nigeria

IT was like a replay of the Great Flood during the time of the biblical Noah in some states in the country, especially Lagos, Ogun and Oyo, on Sunday, as long hours of ceaseless rain caused havoc and resulted in casualties, as well as huge material losses.

As early as 7.00a.m, the downpour forced residents of Lagos to remain indoors for most part of the day, while Christians could not attend Sunday services in the affected states, just as many motorists could not leave their respective homes. It was still raining after 7.00 p.m  on Sunday.

Travellers were stranded as the rain disrupted flight operations for hours and made departure and landing difficult for aircraft even as the runway of the Lagos airport was also flooded.

Air traffic controllers described the rain as the heaviest in recent times, adding that airplanes were diverted to other airports until the runaway was free of flood.
There were heavy flooding in parts of Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Obalende, Orile Iganmu, Surulere, Aguda, Idi Araba, Ikorodu road, Ajegunle and Maryland.

A similar downpour led to serious flooding that wreaked havoc in many other places. The state government, in a bid to reduce the adverse effect often experienced by Lagos citizen as a result of the asperity of the rains, had lately taken  steps, including excavation of blocked drainage channels, expansion of existing ones and creation of new ones to check the menace.

Consequently, the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has directed workers, businessmen and children in public schools to stay at home today, to enable  the state government  to assess the impact of the flood on property and social infrastructure across the state.

As a pre-emptive measure, the government also sent an alert to residents of places highly prone to flooding.

Houses worth millions of naira were also destroyed in Bissaula and Angwan Yadi villages in Kurmi Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The rain wreaked havoc in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, leaving many buildings, including religious centres submerged. It took the efforts of men of the state fire service to prevent some residents of the flooded areas from being washed away.

Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, also recorded another flood, few days after the one that destroyed properties, bridges and roads. A petrol station also collapsed in the torrential rain in the city.

A driver of a Starlet taxi car, while trying to avoid a flooded portion at Bode area of Ibadan, was washed off by the flood. The driver could not be seen, when the car was stopped around Soka area of the metropolis.

Meanwhile, the popular Secretariat-University of Ibadan and the Iwo Road under bridge, were flooded as a result of the rain.

The stream at the Awolowo Junction in the state capital over-flowed its bank, thereby hindering free flow of traffic. As a result, most of the commercial vehicle operators and motorists, especially those coming from churches, had to look for alternative routes.

The traffic situation on the two roads left many commuters stranded while several others resorted to trekking with many vehicles developing  faults.

The stream has become a menace to road users especially when it rains.

In Abeokuta, the rain, which stopped overnight on Saturday, again started at about 12.45p.m on Sunday and was still raining, at the time of filing this report.

Most areas affected by the flood were Isale-Oja Kuto, Ijaye, Olorunsogo, Abiola Way, Amolaso, and Isale-Igbein.

At Ijaye area, a fish cold-room was filled with water, destroying goods worth millions of naira, while a bridge linking Isale Oja Kuto and Nawa-ur-deen junction was also washed away by the flood.

Flood also affected St. Mary’s Anglican Church, as musical instruments and other property of the church were destroyed. The Sunday service could not be held due to the havoc caused by the downpour.

In areas like Olorunsogo and Abiola Way, some houses and cars were submerged, as some residents fled to save their lives.

In Iperu and Ikenne Remo visited by the Nigerian Tribune, many drainage channels were blocked with refuse dumped by residents, despite various warnings by both the state and local governments against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainage.

A member of the state House of Assembly in Taraba, Honourable Ishaku Audu, after visiting the affected areas, expressed shock at the extent of the havoc caused by the flood.

He said the situation had led to the movement of people out of their houses to schools and church premises across some villages, adding that school children were no longer attending schools. He, however, expressed gratitude to God that there was no loss of life.

Credit: Nigerian Tribune

11/07/2011