Downpour Cripples Lagos, Flood Submerges Cars, Strands Motorists

Lagos State – A torrential downpour brought commercial activities to a halt in several parts of Lagos on Monday, as widespread flooding submerged vehicles, left motorists and commuters stranded and triggered severe traffic across major roads.

The worst hit areas included Ikoyi, Lekki, Victoria Island and Oworonshoki, where floodwaters overwhelmed roads and left many vehicles partially submerged. Videos shared by commuters and monitored by PUNCH Metro showed long queues of stationary vehicles, with some motorists trapped for hours while pedestrians waded through knee deep floodwaters to reach their destinations.

Many residents described the rainfall as one of the heaviest in recent weeks, saying it disrupted movement, delayed business activities and significantly reduced productivity across the state.

One frustrated motorist, in a video shared on social media, described being stuck in traffic for hours with nowhere to go, noting that cars were submerged in water while people trekked through the flood on foot.

Some commuters blamed the persistent flooding on ongoing construction associated with the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway, arguing that the project has disrupted natural drainage patterns along affected corridors.

The recurring flooding has renewed concerns over the state’s drainage infrastructure, with residents repeatedly calling on the Lagos State Government to address the underlying causes rather than respond only after floodwaters have already inundated communities.