BREAKING: Lagos Flood Kills Poultry, Destroys Homes as Residents Count Huge Losses

Residents of several Lagos communities are counting their losses after torrential rainfall flooded homes, destroyed businesses, trapped families and disrupted economic activities across Lagos state.

Some of the affected residents, who spoke to journalists on Friday, said the flooding displaced families, destroyed household property and wiped out investments running into hundreds of thousands of naira.

According to Vanguard, they appealed to the Lagos State Government for urgent intervention, including the clearance of blocked drainage channels, completion of canal projects and provision of relief materials to affected households.

A poultry farmer in Lekki Scheme II, identified simply as Alex, said he had been trapped in his home for three days after floodwater submerged his compound and destroyed his poultry business.

“For over three days, I couldn’t go out. I’m on my bed right now because everywhere is flooded,” he said.

Alex said he watched helplessly as the rising water overwhelmed his poultry pens, killing several chicks and leaving him with heavy financial losses.

“I’m looking at my chickens dying. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. The eggs I managed to recover, I boiled them to eat,” he lamented.

The farmer, who said he had lived in the community for more than 10 years, described the flooding as unprecedented.

According to him, Lekki Scheme II had previously been relatively free from severe flooding, but the situation had worsened due to inadequate drainage infrastructure.

He also accused property developers of building over a major canal and restricting the natural movement of stormwater.

“Those developers built on top of the canal. They narrowed it and turned it into a gutter. That’s why we’re suffering this flood,” he said.

Alex called on the relevant authorities to complete the ongoing canal project and remove structures obstructing waterways to prevent another disaster.

Another resident, Johnson, who lives in Ajiran, Lekki, said floodwater entered his apartment at about 4am, forcing him, his wife and children to seek shelter in a neighbour’s upstairs apartment.

“We had to wake the children and move them to safety because the water kept rising. We have not slept properly since then,” he said.

Johnson said several household items were damaged, including a refrigerator, mattress, electronic devices, food items and his children’s school books.

He said although the community usually experienced flooding during the rainy season, the latest incident was one of the worst recorded in the area.

“I couldn’t go to work, and my children could not go to school. It means lost income and missed classes,” he said.

He also expressed concern that stagnant floodwater could trigger outbreaks of waterborne and mosquito-borne diseases in the community.
Trader Loses Goods Worth Hundreds Of Thousands

At Ikotun Market, a foodstuff trader, Ifeanyi Kugbala, said floodwater swept through her shop and soaked bags of rice, beans and other food items valued at hundreds of thousands of naira.

“When the rain started, water entered my shop without notice. Many of my goods were soaked, and some cannot be sold again,” she said.

Kugbala said she had borrowed money to restock the business and feared that the damage would make it difficult for her to repay the loan.

“This is my only source of income. I don’t know where to start because everything I invested is now at risk,” she said.

The trader blamed the recurring flooding around the market on blocked drainage channels.

She urged the state government and local authorities to improve drainage infrastructure and regularly desilt waterways around the market.
‘Nobody Sleeps When It Rains’

In Ebute Metta, a resident identified as Kehinde said heavy rainfall had become a major source of anxiety for people living close to canals.

Kehinde, who lives on Bola Street beside a canal, said residents stayed awake whenever there was heavy rainfall because they feared the waterway could overflow.

“Once it starts raining heavily, nobody in this area sleeps with both eyes closed. We keep watching the canal because once it begins to overflow, we know water will soon enter our homes,” she said.

She said Friday’s downpour caused the canal to overflow within a few hours, flooding nearby streets, houses and compounds.

“We don’t pray for rain anymore; we pray that whenever it rains, the canal doesn’t overflow. That is the reality here,” she added.

Kehinde called on the Lagos State Government to conduct continuous desilting of canals and improve drainage facilities in communities vulnerable to flooding.
Journalist Relocates Family To hotel

A journalist, who requested anonymity, said he and his family had been living in a hotel for two weeks after floodwater entered their apartment.

He said the displacement had imposed an additional financial burden on the family and forced him to begin searching for another apartment.

The journalist advised prospective tenants to investigate the flooding history of communities before renting accommodation, particularly during the rainy season.

Residents blamed the recurring flooding on blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate waste disposal and rapid urban development without corresponding investment in drainage infrastructure.

They urged the state government to intensify the clearance and desilting of drains and canals, enforce environmental regulations and stop construction on natural waterways.

They also appealed for emergency assistance, including food, potable water, mattresses and medical support, for families whose homes and livelihoods were affected by the flooding.