Floods Paralyse Lagos, Again

Dele Aderibigbe, Sola Oluwadare and Muda Oyeniran, Lagos 27.06.2009

ANOTHER torrential rainfall, on Friday, crippled commercial activities in Lagos, the second time within two weeks.

Most private commercial outlets in the metropolis remained shut, following heavy flooding arising from the downpour, which began on Thursday night and only subsided at 1.30 p.m. on Friday.

The few corporate organisations that opened for business in Apapa, Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Ikeja offered skeleton services because many of their workers were forced to remain at home by the rain.

Saturday Tribune noted that many commercial vehicles were off the road, while the few ones that operated plied only routes considered less prone to flooding.

The flood along streets adjacent to the popular Computer Village in Ikeja made the axis practically impassable as at 1pm, as persons already drenched by the rain wobbled through the more than knee-deep flood.

The situation was also terrible in Apapa, as business activities were paralysed in many places.

Most hit was the Liverpool area, Tin Can Ports and Trinity along the popular Apapa-Mile 2-Oshodi Expressway, where the flood impeded movements.

The downpour was so heavy in the area that the launching of the anti-corruption and transparency /Servicom Charter, slated for 10:00 a.m. could not begin until 1:00p.m.