It is yet another round of sad tales as flood took over Ikorodu division, wrecking untold hardship on residents and properties with reckless abandon.
The issue of flood in Ikorodu division in the last few years has become an annual phenomenon, such that residents across the division always brace up for the challenges each time the raining season is approaching, since government has done little or nothing to address the menace of flood.
But the experience of the heavy downpour, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, June 28, 2020, was one that residents in many areas across the division will not forget in a hurry due to the flood that took over their various apartments, streets while their properties were also submerged as the rain lasted till late evening of that day.
From Ikorodu to Igbogbo, Odogunyan, Adamo, Oreta, Imota, Agric, Ijede, Isiu, Eyita, Gberigbe, Erunwen, Agura and other areas across the division, it was cries hues, complaints and lamentation galore as landlords and their tenants were sacked from their various homes by flood which submerged their apartments and properties.
Some of the residents explained that they have never witnessed such a ferocious flood since they moved into their various residences as they were forced to abandon their apartments refuge in other places alongside their families.
Also affected by the flood were roads across various communities and streets in the division, which were submerged by water due to lack of drainages, a situation which made movement of residents and vehicle in and out of these areas almost impossible.
It was also gathered that houses of some notable personalities were also not spared by the flood. Among these were houses of the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Baale of Ebute–Iga and several others across the division.
It was, however, gathered that the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba SemiudeenKasali had already briefed the Ministry of Environment on the flood incident across his kingdom while an inspection team was said to have visited to see the impact of the flood.
Meanwhile, residents of some of the affected areas, while narrating their experiences in an interview with our reporters, called on the government, both at the Local and State levels, to find a permanent solution to the issue of flooding in Ikorodu division in order to spare them from the annual agony and hardship that the flood usually inflicts on them.
Chief S. O. Ajayi, a landlord, whose house was affected by the flood in Eyita, described the incident as an unexpected occurrence, stating that lots of properties belonging to him and his tenants were submerged by the flood.
“Well, the rain actually caused lots of damages; look at all the properties that were removed from the house as they were soaked in water. The flood was an unexpected visitor and we never expected that it would be this much to the extent that it would destroyed our properties.”
“If you look around, you will see that this is not the only house affected as several other buildings were equally waterlogged.
We only hope that government will come to our aid and rescue us from further flooding incidents as soon as possible.”
On the steps taken to prevent further flooding of the house, Chief Ajayi said that he tried in his own little way by patching a hole in the fence through which the flood enters his compound, weeks before the rain started but that the flood still managed to find its way.
He also blamed the cause of the flood on the abandoned construction of the Powerline road. According to him, all the sand and granite stones that were supposed to be used for the construction have been dumped into the gutters by the rain; thereby, causing blockage which is now forcing erosion to overflow into nearby houses.
Another resident of the area, who simply identified himself as Victor, explained that the flood wreaked havoc on his entire room and that he had to move out all his properties as they were completely soaked.
“The rain caused a lot of havoc to the extent that my entire room and everything in it were soaked and I had to pack all my properties outside. I also told my wife and children to go and sleep somewhere since our room and the entire building were flooded.”
He explained that he and other occupants used machine to scoop water out of their apartment to enable them move their properties inside as soon as possible.
He also blamed the contractor of the Powerline road for the flooding incident due to the abandonment of the road and appealed to the government to ensure that the contractor is back on site to complete the road as a way of preventing further flooding of the community.
Also, a resident of Adeite Street in Odogunyan area of Ikorodu, Mrs. AishatAdegbite, also lamented the flooding incident, which she said has worsen the condition of the already dilapidated roads in her community.
She explained that since the commencement of the raining season, their entire community has become waterlogged while residents now find it difficult on a daily basis to move in and out due to the damages done to their roads. She added that they are no longer at peace as flood takes over their apartments whenever it rains.
In the same vein, some of the victims of the flood in Igbogbo, while narrating their experiences, said that the situation is becoming unbearable as they can no longer live comfortable in their various homes as their properties always get soaked in water each time there is rainfall.
While stating that inadequate and blockage of drainages in the community are major causes of the flooding situation, they appealed to both Local and State Governments for construction of well channeled drainages while also urging relevant government agencies responsible for clearing of drainages to be awake to their responsibilities across the State, especially during this raining season.