Table of Contents
- Living in Pain and Fear
- Oyadiran Estate's Struggles
- Daily Challenges Faced by Residents
- Health Concerns Due to Poor Infrastructure
- Government Response and Community Appeals
- Amuwo Odofin's Situation
- Festac's Deteriorating Condition
For the past few years, residents in certain areas of Lagos State have been enduring pain and anxiety.
This situation is largely due to the poor condition of roads in various communities, which has resulted in blocked drainage systems and subsequent flooding, leaving many people homeless.
Particularly concerning is the Oyadiran Estate in the Sabo area of Yaba, Lagos, where residents live in perpetual anxiety and frustration as the once-peaceful neighborhood has transformed into a nightmare of damaged roads, obstructed drainage systems, and knee-deep floods during rainfall.
What was once a smooth drive through the estate has become a stretch riddled with gullies and craters. Deep potholes have severely damaged the asphalt, creating large cavities filled with muddy water. Vehicles now struggle to navigate the dilapidated road, while pedestrians cautiously walk along the narrow edges to avoid slipping into stagnant water.
On rainy days, the situation deteriorates further. The drainage channels, many of which are blocked with plastic waste and silt, overflow easily, causing torrents of water to rush into homes and shops. Residents share how, within minutes of a heavy downpour, their streets turn into rivers, with water flooding compounds and submerging ground-floor apartments. Motorists express their concerns about the risks they face while navigating the damaged roads daily.
Describing their daily ordeal, Kunle Adebayo characterized the experience as torturous. “It is agonizing to travel on this road every day. I have had to repair my car almost daily due to the poor condition of the road.
“No one seems willing to fix it. The local government has made numerous promises, but none have resulted in any positive changes. They come, make promises, and then disappear, never to be seen again.”
“However, during election season, the politicians come with their pledges. They promise everything, even to build bridges where there are none, but once they are in office, they forget those promises. We haven’t seen any results; they are all unfulfilled promises,” he told DAILY POST.
Another resident, Mike Ojo, a small business owner, expressed his frustration, stating that his shop was swept away by flooding, primarily due to the estate’s inadequate drainage system, worsened by the bad roads.
“The rain washes away goods worth thousands of Naira. I continuously lose stock because of the flooding. The drainage systems are entirely blocked, and when water cannot flow, it floods our shops and homes.”
For Ismail Adewale, the situation is a nightmare. “Every time it rains, we struggle with the roads. There are times when Keke Napep breaks down in the middle of the flood. Sometimes, we have to navigate the flood to ensure our children can get to school. The roads have completely failed, and no one seems to care. We have a set of indifferent leaders who don’t care about the struggles of their constituents.”
Residents explain that the deteriorating road conditions have resulted from years of neglect and poor maintenance of the estate’s drainage system. The open gutters, once capable of carrying stormwater, are now clogged with debris. Efforts by residents’ associations to draw government attention have yielded minimal results.
In addition to the environmental hazards, health concerns are increasing.
Pools of stagnant water have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, raising fears of malaria outbreaks. Children are often seen wading through dirty water after rainfall, while some households have resorted to building sand barriers at their entrances.
In the evenings, the damaged sections of the road become perilous for motorists. Without adequate street lighting, unsuspecting drivers often fall into deep gullies or get stuck in waterlogged areas.
Others have noted that beyond property damage, the floods expose residents to health risks. Mosquito breeding, waterborne diseases, and unpleasant odors have become a constant feature of life in the area.
Mr. Tayo Ogunyeye, Chairman of the Oyadiran Estate Residents Association, lamented that the issue has persisted despite several appeals to government agencies.
“This is not just about inconvenience; it is a public health crisis waiting to happen. We have engaged with the local government and other stakeholders, but we have not received any concrete responses.
“Our estate was well-planned, but over the years, poor maintenance of the drainage systems has exacerbated the flooding.
“We cannot resolve this on our own. The entire drainage system requires redesigning and reconstruction to address the situation. Otherwise, we risk the collapse of a once-thriving community,” he said.
When contacted, Mr. Bayo Adefuye, Chairman of the Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), stated, “This matter cannot be discussed over the phone.”
Similarly, the situation is either the same or worse in the Amuwo Odofin area of the state, particularly in Festac, where nearly all major roads have collapsed and are now impassable.
Starting from First Avenue to Second Avenue, Sixth Avenue, Seventh Avenue, and several inner roads have all fallen into disrepair.
As one leaves Festac and heads to Amuwo Odofin, Alakoso Road, which connects Apple Junction to Ijesha, has completely deteriorated, allowing only articulated vehicles to traverse it.
Residents of Festac Extension Estate in Amuwo Odofin are also battling with mosquitoes, as parts of the estate remain perpetually flooded, creating ideal breeding grounds for these pests.
Condemning the government's attitude towards the suffering of the people, resident and lawyer Marcellus Onah expressed his frustration.
He pointed out that politicians at both the state and local government levels have visited the estate at various times, particularly during elections, to seek votes and promise to address the drainage issues in the estate, but those promises have remained unfulfilled.
He mentioned that last year, what appeared to be reconstruction work on the drainage systems began, but it has dragged on for far too long.
“In this estate, you can see stagnant, murky water
