Residents of Aboru in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on Monday woke up to count loses caused by flood, following a heavy rain that lasted from Sunday night to early hours of Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that as a result of the flood many residents could not sleep in the night.
NAN observed that residents stood in batches at the frontage of their houses and shops lamenting the havoc caused by the rain while some were seen carrying belongings affected by the rain outside.
Many fences were pulled down while the entire Aboru Road in Iyana-Ipaja was filled with mud and garbage moved to the area by the flood.
Many of the residents and shop owners who spoke with NAN linked the recurring flooding to the alleged abandoned bridge connecting Iyana-Ipaja to Aboru, saying the bridge was taking much water than it could.
According to them, whenever it rains, not only in the area but also in other places like Abule Egba, Abattior in Agege, the water being channeled to the bridge affect residents of the area.
An elderly landlord, Mr Solomon Egbodhoroma said that the people in the area had been suffering because of the abandoned bridge.
He alleged that what the government constructed was a culvert and not bridge.
Egbodhoroma said: “I could not sleep since 2 a.m. when the rain started because the water spilled over to the window level of my one storey building and pulled down my fence.
“Our challenge in Aboru road here is the canal that the government refuses to do. What is here is better described as a culvert not a bridge. Every year, we suffer a lot and lose property.
“The recurrent flood has sent away people in my ground floor as you can see. I have been restricted to the upstairs and every year, my house is always affected.
“The channelisation of over 35 drainages to this area is a problem we face, and the government has refused to do it even after the contract was said to have been awarded as far back as 2012.’’
The retire civil servant, who noted that he got to the area in 1979, said that home owners had made efforts to fix the problem.
“We have equally written to the state government and house of assembly without result.
“After series of letters, the government refused to answer us, we went there to protest and they promised to come but they did not. We are pleading with the government to come and do this bridge.
“Where can I go from here being close to 70 years? A lot of people have left after losing property. I have suffered enough,” he said.
Also, a Septuagenarian landlord, Harryi Iduwe urged the government to come to their aid by ensuring the construction of a standard bridge in the area that could withstand the volume of water channeled into it.
Iduwe, whose house was also inundated with water, said the canal had been bringing untold hardship annually to residents.
“Any time it rains, we are in trouble as water flows from the canal to all streets here. We call on the government to look at our afflictions,” he said.
A furniture maker, Mr Gift Wejem said that the flood did not only carry away a set of furniture and wood that were kept outside the shop, but also inundated materials, machines and power plant kept in the shop.
“The situation was not like this when I came in. The problem is flood and the increasing volume of water channeled here. The bridge we have here is not bridge.
“So, since much water is expected to pass into it, it gets filled up and water flows back to nearby houses,” Wejem told NAN.
Mr Suleiman Adedokun, another shop owner said: “This water is too much, it entered my shop and as you can see, I have been moving the water out since morning.
“Government should please come and do this canal, drains and road. It is long overdue. This road and drain must be raised to end our plights.”
NAN reports that as at about 11a.m., so many business owners, tenants and landlords are still busy evacuating water, refuse and mud the flood moved to their apartments.