BRANDPOWER reports that Lagos is experiencing consistent rainfall, which is causing gridlock and flooding in various parts of the city.
Some workers who spoke on the issue said that the rain has led to hike in transport fare, amidst economic hardship.
It has become a common occurrence during the rainy season in Lagos and it leads to disruptions in transportation, businesses, and daily activities.
Wednesday floods
Meanwhile, heavy downpour on Wednesday has left the Iyanaba and oworonsoki areas of Lagos submerged by flood. Commuters and motorists could be seen stranded on the road.
The Iyana-Oworo, Olopo Meji areas leading to the 3rd Mainland Bridge this morning are completely flooded, causing heavy traffic that extends to Alapere.
In a video seen on social media, the Iyana-Iworo, Olopo Meji area leading to the 3rd Mainland Bridge underwater has also been hit by flood. The flood rendered the road almost impassable causing gridlock for commuters.
Video of Iyana Oworonshoki flood
Also heavily-flooded was the Iyana-Oworo-Olopomeji area heading to the Third Mainland Bridge, causing long traffic that extended to Alapere.
Channels reports that the downpour caused a tree to fall around Airport U-turn in Oshodi and personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) were at hand to clear the fallen tree from the road to facilitate traffic flow and ensure public safety.
Their prompt intervention enabled the restoration of vehicular movement, mitigating potential congestion and hazards in the area.
Mr Oluwaseun Olatunbosun, a resident in Alimosho who works with Fibrenet around the Ikeja area, said that there was always a hike in fare anytime the rain fell.
“If there is no rain, I spend like N1,000 from my house around Orisunbare to Ikeja where my office is but I spend well over N1,000 during the rainy season.
“As it is now, the traffic is heavy and I am sure there will be an increase in the fare as I am going to the office,” he said.
Another resident, Miss Favour Blessing, who lives around Ilepo in Abule Egba and works in a Spar in Ikeja, said that the fare to her office usually was between N600 and N800 if there was no rain.
“Right now with the rain, the fare could be between N1,000 and N1,400.
“It is worrisome because of the economic situation in the country. Sometimes I don’t even go to work because of the hike in fare when it rains,” she said.
A schoolteacher, Mrs Juliet Okonkwo, told NAN that most of her students come late to school during the rainy season.
Okonkwo added that the rain does not only affect the students but also the teachers too.
“We have to make our way to work even with the gridlock because we have a responsibility to the kids,” she said.
Another Lagos worker, an architect, Mr Shola Ayodele, told NAN that work was always slow during rainy seasons.
He added that the rainy season affected his site engineers because they hardly come to work, blaming their absence to the hike in fares.
