Flood destroys buildings, valuables in Ogun

A boy scooping out water on Wednesday

A torrential rain which lasted for four hours in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Tuesday destroyed property and valuables worth millions of naira and displaced hundreds of residents in the Abule-Otun, Lafenwa area.

The rain started around 3pm and lasted till 7pm.

Travellers and motorists were also held up in a gridlock around Brewery and Lafenwa roundabouts for hours.

The Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, which terminated at the roundabout, was taken over by flood, which nearly submerged small vehicles.

The flood, which was said to have been aggravated by the blockage of a stream known as ‘Odo Baale’, which passes through the area, wrecked havoc by flooding several houses and shops in the area.

On Wednesday when our correspondent visited the area, residents were seen scooping water from their flooded apartments.

It was gathered that two residents were almost washed away by the rampaging flood.

Residents said indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the water channels, blocked the stream and thus it went off its course, flooding homes.

Some of them also claimed that some houses had been constructed on the waterways.

Some residents said they could not sleep throughout the night as they were trying to salvage their valuables.

A landlord, Mr. Williams Folawewo, was one of the affected residents, as his eight-room bungalow, had its foundation destroyed.

The house, situated on number 10, Olondo Street, also had cracks on its wall.

He said, “I built the house in 1982 and we have never experienced this type of flooding since I moved here.

“Now, the destruction of the foundation will definitely cost me some money to put it back in shape.”

Another resident, Mrs. Mulikat Adekanbi, had her three-bedroom apartment taken over by flood, with mattresses, furniture, electrical gadgets and other valuables submerged in water.

She said she could not sleep throughout the night, and she had to mop up the rooms.

Her mattresses and clothes were spread out in the premises of the one-storey building where she resides.

Another resident, Mrs Rashidat Ashafa, also had her one-room apartment flooded.

She said, “You can see the furniture and the mattress soaked with water. I could not sleep in the room. I had to join my neighbour who lives upstairs for the night. It was a a nightmare.”

A shop, where fairly used television sets are sold, was taken over by flood, destroying the gadgets.

The state Governor, Senator Ibikunle, visited Abule Otun earlier in the day, and promised to carry out proper channelisation of the stream.

He also added that some houses that were constructed on the waterways might be demolished.

He said the Ministry of Physical planning; National Emergency Management Agency and the State Emergency Management Agency would visit the area to assess the damage.

PUNCH