Residents of Oko-Ope, Ijede, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, have cried out to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to address the severe flooding they experienced on Monday following over 12 hours of rainfall that began on Sunday.
A viral video shared on Monday showed a resident filming the scene, claiming they had been trapped by the high-level flooding, which submerged their homes, trapped residents, and damaged or swept away valuables.
“We are in Oko-Ope, Ijede. Please help us. Flood has displaced us. I can’t even enter my apartment because it has spoilt everything. I’m in clothes but presently barefoot. It has swept away everything we kept in the house. People are coming to rescue their people; we’re trapped. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we voted for you, come and rescue us,” she pleaded in Yoruba.
According to a statement sent to Peoples Gazette by the governor’s special adviser on media and publicity, Gboyega Akosile, the state government said it is aware of the flooding and noted that a project is already underway in the area to address the issue.
It read, “We have seen this trending video, but want to assure residents that the ongoing project awarded by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, shall permanently resolve this problem. Meanwhile, I have instructed the contractor to commence excavation for now to the discharge point and concentrate on the construction of culverts. Then he can later go back to the concrete work that is ongoing.”
The state government, therefore, apologised to residents for the inconvenience caused while efforts continue to find a permanent solution.
