Residents and commuters along the Mobil Road axis in Ajah, Lagos, have raised concern over persistent flooding, saying it disrupts movement, strands schoolchildren and delays emergency services.

The residents said on Tuesday in Lagos that the situation worsened following recent rainfall and called on the Lagos government and relevant agencies to intervene urgently.

They said the road became severely flooded whenever it rained, in spite of the earlier warnings by the state government to residents of flood-prone communities.

Michael Anifowoshe, a creative art director at New House Parish, said relevant environmental authorities should have put preventive measures in place before the onset of the rainy season.

Mr Anifowoshe attributed the flooding to clogged drainage channels along Mobil Road and poor environmental practices by some road users.

He described the condition as unbearable and dangerous to lives and property.

Mr Anifowoshe questioned why a major canal along the road was no longer draining floodwater effectively.

According to him, the channel may have been blocked by sand and debris, preventing the free flow of water.

Another commuter, Moses Isioma, said school buses were frequently trapped in the flooded road, while ambulances and other emergency vehicles often could not access the area.

Mr Isioma urged the Lagos government to address the recurring flooding, which he said continued to hinder movement and pose health risks.

Charity Silas, a businesswoman, said the flooding had adversely affected business activities and household routines.

According to her, rainfall often disrupts plans to take her children to school and prevents her from opening her shop.

She added that floodwater usually submerges parts of the road, delaying workers and reducing customer turnout.

Ms Silas also expressed concern over possible disease outbreaks, noting that residents were regularly forced to wade through contaminated water.

Ms Silas urged the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies to inspect the drainage infrastructure and carry out immediate intervention before the peak of the rainy season.

“This is the time for government to act before the rains become heavier and intervention becomes more difficult,” she said.

(NAN)