Following a prolonged period of intense heat in Nigeria, many had eagerly awaited the arrival of the rainy season. However, the much-anticipated rain in Lagos and Ogun states early this morning brought with it unexpected challenges, turning what was hoped to be a relief into a morning of disaster.
While the rain initially brought joy to many, its aftermath revealed the longstanding issues of poor drainage systems, inadequate transportation networks, and bad roads. Workers and traders faced difficulties navigating through the city, as roads became impassable and drainages overflowed, leading to severe traffic congestion and increased transportation costs.
The heavy downpour forced many students to stay home, while those who ventured out faced challenges due to the unmotorable roads and overflowing drainages. Ibukun, a resident of Olambe in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, recounted her experience of having to return home due to the unavailability of transport and the relentless rain.
“The rain started in the early hours of today around 6am, I was preparing for work and to also take my child to school when we heard a heavy downpour, after waiting and hoping for three hours for the rain to stop it was unending to I knew my child won't go to school, but I had to report to work so I waited for the rain to slow down a bit before I headed out but unfortunately getting a vehicle out of Olambe area of Akute was an herculean task, my husband who left earlier was stranded and drenched in the rain while I was forced to head back home as commuter drivers and motorcyclists refused to go, saying the road was too bad and the traffic is terrible, with many vehicles breaking down on the road. The roads in Ogun state are bad, with so many abandoned projects and if today's experience is anything to go by we are in for a long rainy season.”
A Lagos resident named Emmanuel expressed his frustration and anger towards the government, attributing the untold hardship faced during the rain to the lack of proper infrastructure. He pointed out that developed countries also experience heavy downpours but are better prepared for them. Emmanuel found it unbelievable that Lagos still has an open drainage system in 2024, highlighting the need for urgent infrastructure upgrades to avoid similar challenges in the future.
“Well, the rainfall is natural, you know, nature would have its course at all times, when it's rainy season, when it's supposed to fall and that is what it is supposed to do. but the question we get to ask ourselves is if Lagos and Nigeria are the only place in the world that observes heavy rainfall? then if it's not how and why is it that in other places in other parts of the world when such thing is experienced the people or the citizenry does not go through such a difficult task in getting to their place of work. In other parts of the world, you would see a working transportation system where people from their house they get to a train or a bus and get to their destination as quick as possible. I fault government in all of this, it is still very sad to observe that in Lagos state particularly you still have open drainages in Lagos. Open drainages in 2024 when other parts of the world has moved forward. Sometimes when you go to other parts of the world you wont know where the drainage is. When rain falls everything just washes away but till now in 2024 you still have a Lagos with open drainage and when rain falls everywhere is flooded. We shouldn't blame the rain because it's natural that rain would fall but it's the responsibility of the government to know how to direct nature when it comes calling. “
