Lagos is a fantastic city, the stuff of dreams for some folks. However, it quickly became a hellish nightmare for some of its inhabitants soon after the rainy season started.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, and its residents are used to the annual floods that start in March and often end only in November.
However, in mid-July, the most significant business district of the country got struck by the worst floods in recent history.
Eselebor Oseluonamhen, a media firm worker and inhabitant of Lagos, said in an interview with CNN:
“I drove out of my house … I didn’t realize it had rained so much … There was heavy traffic on my route because of the flood. The more we went, the higher the water level. The water kept rising until it covered the bumper of my car … then there was water flowing inside my car.”
The situation is dire. Here is a view from the streets of the city:
Every year!!!! Same same in Lagos!!
Nothing is ever done about flooding but to tell citizens to move…..
Pls keep your saloon cars at home o.
Even SUVs dey swim ????♂️ pic.twitter.com/bN31UuLOzK— Kate Henshaw (@HenshawKate) July 16, 2021
Numerous photos and videos of the flooding were posted online, often depicting countless vehicles adrift, sometimes barely recognizable.
Estimates suggest that the economic activity is at a loss of $4bn each year due to the floods.
The city is home to over 24 million people. However, the future spells out bad news for the city’s residents – some projections suggest that Lagos may become uninhabitable by the end of the 21st century due to the perpetually rising sea levels.
However, the situation is also worsened by the poorly maintained drainage systems and abrupt urban growth.
