I work as a driver and handle product deliveries for a company. The last flooding experience I had was just two weeks ago, in September. That particular rain was a serious one I can’t forget. It started when I left Ikate, heading to Ikota. I was in Jakande, on my way to Orchid Road, when it started falling heavily. Before I could get there, the whole place was already flooded.
From Ikota down to Jakande, everywhere was flooded. The traffic was terrible, and all alternative routes were blocked. Vehicles could not move on the main expressway. I had to divert and connect back at Lekki.
But when I reached the Lekki area, that was when I began to notice the flood. Some cars were stuck, while some could not move, including SUVs. People were afraid to walk on the water because of its high level.
I managed to pass several vehicles already stuck. The water had entered my car seats, and everything inside was soaked. My only prayer then was, “God, let this car keep moving”, because if it stopped, I knew it would be another story entirely.
When I got close to Freedom Way, the car suddenly stopped and wouldn’t start again. I was lucky that some young guys nearby came around to help me push it off the road. I packed my belongings, locked the car, and went home to change.
The water eventually gained access. My car would not start again. I had to replace a lot of things. That day alone, I spent ₦12,000 on the auto electric repairs and transport before I took the car to an auto body technician because the underbody had rusted and worn out from years of driving through flooded areas. With welding, replacing several panels, and spraying the whole car, it cost me ₦160,000. My iPhone also got damaged and hasn’t been functioning properly since then. Things like this happen unexpectedly. We don’t plan for them. But as a driver, I depend on my car for daily income, so I must fix it no matter what.
This issue of flooding in Lekki has become too frequent. The canals are too small, and most of them are blocked. Even when there’s no rain, the water level is always high. In my area at Kusenla Road, Ikate, once the rain starts, it becomes terrible. We wear rain boots before stepping out, unlike some parts of the mainland.
The government should expand and clear the canals properly. Because each time it rains, people are stranded from going out. Commercial motorcyclists and small traders wouldn’t be able to work.
I will not forget the flood of that day. I experience floods annually, but this year was tougher. Thank God I am tall; if not, I would have been swept away by the floodwater.
As narrated by: Innocent Halilu (Lekki, Lagos).
This snippet is published as part of a series, Lagos Under Water.
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