Diverted water leaves trail of destruction in community, residents allege

In a desperate plea, the residents of White Sand community in Isheri-osun, Lagos, are imploring the Lagos State Government to intervene and provide a lasting solution to the recurring and devastating flooding that has become an annual nightmare for them.

Following a torrential downpour that lasted for approximately 10 hours, it was reported that the area was inundated with floodwaters, resulting in widespread devastation, with homes, vehicles, and businesses submerged, and schools forced to shut their doors due to the impassable conditions.

The White Sand area in Alimosho Local Government was among the most severely affected by the floods, with the community, which has become all too familiar with annual flooding, experiencing record-breaking water levels this year.

Some of the residents of the area who spoke with our correspondent, on Tuesday, highlighted the major source of the constant flooding as lack of proper drainage and they are calling on the government to come to their aid.

The Community Development chairman of Whitesand Estate, Banji Akingbade, while speaking with our correspondent, pointed out that the flood started because of the construction of the Ijegun-Jakande Road, which diverted water from that area down into the estate.

“The flood started because water from the construction of the Ijegun-Jakande Road was diverted into our community. There is no channel to divert it out. Our drainage systems are either blocked or too narrow, and they are mostly built by individuals or the community, not the government.”

He added, “We need the government to come to our aid. This is a government project that has been abandoned by the contractor for years, and it’s causing a lot of problems. We need the Ministry of Environment to help clear the blocked drainage and channel the water out of the community. The chairman of Alimosho Local Government, Mr Ayuba, has assessed the area, but no work has been done yet.”

Residents who spoke with PUNCH Metro pointed out that inadequate drainage was the main cause of their flooded estate, noting that their efforts alone were not enough and that they needed significant help from the government to prevent future floods.

A resident, Johnson Olabode, also spoke about the need for the construction of a drainage system, emphasising the need for a permanent solution.

“We need proper drainage systems. The small channels we’ve built ourselves aren’t enough. The government needs to assist us in creating adequate water channels to prevent future flooding,” he said.

Olabode also added that evacuating their homes was not an option for them, saying: “We can’t evacuate our houses because this place is a low land. Where exactly do we go with our families?

“We in Whitesand have marked out our exact problem, all we need now is for the government to assist us in building good drainage and we will be fine.”

The community is said to have links to major communities in the state such as FESTAC, Mile 2 and also has high economic potential if paid attention to by the government.

The chairman noted that the community members had been taxing themselves to find a way out of this problem, but were unable to generate enough money to put an end to the flood.

As the Lagos State Government recently issued a 48-hour ultimatum to residents in Gbagada-Bariga to vacate homes built on drainage channels, the White Sand community is urgently appealing to the government to prioritize their plight and take immediate action to upgrade their inadequate drainage infrastructure.

The residents’ desperate appeal underscores the pressing need for enhanced infrastructure in flood-vulnerable areas, emphasizing that timely government intervention is crucial to mitigating the devastating effects of heavy rainfall and ensuring the safety and well-being of those living in these high-risk zones.