Lagos Goes "Under Water"

The heavens poured torrential that soaked and sacked Lagos all through Sunday, drenched those who managed to go to church, and submerged homes and roads with flood water.
The rain began at 5 a.m. in some parts of the state and fell continuously till late in the night.
Motorists faced a hard time on major routes such as Okota, Ikorodu Road, Agege Motor Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Oshodi-Mile 2-Apapa Expressway.
Residents had to wade through the flood to get in and out of their homes.
Passengers who could not bear the standstill alighted from commercial buses and walked to their destinations.
Some, left in awe of a non-stop rainfall, cancelled appointments for the day.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NMA) had warned Lagos to brace up for a heavy downpour this year because of its coastal nature.
However, Environment Commissioner, Tunji Bello, on Sunday cautioned the residents against panic, urging them to remain indoors while it rains.
He attributed the heavy rain to the rise in water level.
Bello said the channels meant to discharge water from the roads and drainages are completely blocked because of the high tide and because both the Atlantic Ocean and lagoon that receive water from the channels have risen more than usual.

 

Governor Babatunde Fashola on Sunday night directed that all children in public schools should remain at home today to enable the government assess the impact of the flood on property and social infrastructure.

A statement issued by Bello said mindful of the fact that examinations commence on Tuesday, Fashola appealed for special dispensation to protect  children, the most vulnerable members of the society, from the devastating effects floods and heavy rains can cause.

The statement advised proprietors of private schools to take a cue from this and keep their children at home as much as possible, until the impact of the rain has been suitably assessed and potential dangers addressed.