Deluge in the City: Lekki Residents Drowns in Despair as Floodwater Swallows Homes and Streets [VIDEO]

 

Torrents of water surged down Lekki Street in Lagos last weekend, transforming what was once a bustling urban neighborhood into a submerged nightmare. Residents were left reeling, wading through knee-deep — and in some areas, waist-deep — water, watching helplessly as their homes, vehicles, and businesses succumbed to the deluge.

“I stood by my gate and watched the water climb my doorstep,” said Mrs. Olufunke Ajayi, a mother of three and longtime Lekki resident. “Before I could move anything upstairs, my entire living room was under water.” Her voice trembled as she spoke, still clutching a half-wet photo album salvaged from the flood.

Reports from the scene indicate that the flooding began late Thursday night following hours of relentless rainfall. By dawn, the street was a canal, and the once-vibrant neighborhood was reduced to silence, save for the sound of water sloshing against concrete and the occasional drone of generators hoisted onto makeshift platforms.

Boats, usually reserved for recreational or fishing purposes, were now emergency transport. Residents used them to ferry children and the elderly to safety. Others resorted to makeshift rafts fashioned from plastic containers and wooden panels.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen water on the road, but it’s never been this bad,” said Dayo Akinwale, a shop owner whose store now resembles a murky aquarium. “We’ve lost stock worth hundreds of thousands of naira. There’s no insurance. No support. It feels like no one is coming to help us.”

Urban flooding in Lagos, particularly in areas like Lekki, has become alarmingly frequent in recent years. Experts blame a combination of factors: poor drainage infrastructure, unchecked urban development, and rising sea levels due to climate change. The Lekki corridor, once marketed as a luxury coastal haven, is now grappling with the harsh reality of its topography and inadequate planning.

Power supply has been disrupted across affected blocks, with many transformers submerged or shut down as a safety precaution. As a result, many residents are now without electricity, making the cleanup efforts even more daunting.

Emergency response has been slow, residents claim. Though the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed that its operatives are on the ground, many locals say they have yet to see significant assistance. “We’ve called, we’ve tweeted, we’ve begged,” lamented Chuka Obiora, a young software engineer. “All we get are promises and press statements.”

On social media, images and videos of the flood have gone viral, sparking outrage and debate. While some express sympathy for the affected residents, others criticize what they see as the negligence of urban planners and the government’s failure to enforce building codes or invest in proper drainage infrastructure.

Environmentalists are calling for urgent reforms. “Lekki is a climate ticking time bomb,” said Adeola Ogunyemi, a hydrology expert based in Lagos. “We must stop building on wetlands and start taking adaptation seriously. Otherwise, this will happen again — and worse.”

Meanwhile, community members are stepping up where the government seems to have faltered. Volunteer groups are mobilizing resources, distributing food, and helping elderly residents evacuate their homes. Social media campaigns are also gathering donations, though the long-term recovery process remains uncertain.

For now, residents of Lekki Street are left with no choice but to wait — for the water to recede, for aid to arrive, and for their voices to finally be heard. But the emotional and economic toll is already enormous.

“This is more than just floodwater,” Mrs. Ajayi said, tears welling up again. “It’s our lives. Our memories. Our peace. All washed away.”

Lady cries out in pain as she shares the aftermath of her home being flooded by rainwater 💔🥴🧎— Can you guess the location 🫵🏾

(Mercy Johnson Obi VP Fidelity Bank Palmpay Mummy Zee) pic.twitter.com/jdd4Te51EW

— Oxygist (@oxygist) May 19, 2025