SAN FRANCISCO, July 09, (THEWILL) – An unprecedented flood has taken over the entire Ahmadu Bello way in Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday while many residents in Lekki, Victoria Island, Victoria Garden City and Ajah, have been trapped by the flood, with some using canoe as a rescue point forcing some residents and commercial offices to unceremoniously vacate their premises.
This has made the Lagos State Police Command close the road temporarily for human and vehicular movements due to threat by heavy flood.
The command’s spokesman, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, declared that the second link-road to the Island coming from Lagos mainland was unsafe for motorists stating that the down pour in the state has caused flood making a number of roads on the Island unsafe.
He said that the flood has caused traffic gridlock in parts of Victoria Island and its environs and advised motorist plying Ahmadu Bello Way and other areas prone to flood to take alternative routes approved by traffic officials.
“The flood in the area has caused us to temporarily block Ahmadu Bello Way for safety of motorists,” Famous-Cole said.
“We want the public to know that the relevant traffic and security agencies are on ground to flush out the drains and secure road users in the state.”
Mr Mahmud Hassan, the Public Affairs Officer, Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), told NAN that their men have been on ground since morning ensuring that road users use alternative routes provided.
He said that the flood has caused hardship to road users and people living in the area.
Tosin Olalere, a resident at Abraham Adesanya Estate near Victoria Island, told NAN that he has been in his house since Wednesday due to the continuous rain.
“There has been no vehicular movements since Wednesday July 5, till now,” Olalere said.
“People in my community have resorted to trekking or using canoe to move about.
“Some people have even started moving out of the community because of the flood which destroyed their properties.”
Some passengers in a commercial bus from mainland to Island in Lagos also complained of outrageous amount they paid to get to Victoria Island due to the flood on Ahmadu Bello Way.
A student, who declined to give her name, said she spent over four hours in traffic from Oshodi to Ajah because of the flood.
She said she and other passengers paid N1000 from Oshodi to Ajah instead of the N400 being paid on a regular day.
