We Are Drowning”: Lagos Community Begs Sanwo-Olu for Help as Gada Canal Flood Displaces Families, Shuts Down Bridge up to Okemeta and Ayanrin
Residents of Gada–Ibiye Community in Olorunda LCDA, Lagos State, are sending an SOS to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and emergency agencies as relentless rainfall and the overflowing Gada Canal submerge homes, destroy property, and cut off daily life for thousands.
The flooding, which intensified after days of torrential downpour, has spread across Gada, Okemeta, and Ayanrin communities along the Badagry Expressway. At least 15 households have abandoned homes now underwater, while hundreds more watch water levels rise with growing dread.
“We have lost property worth millions of naira. Families are scattered. Children cannot go to school,” said Dr. Fowowe S S, who signed the community’s appeal on behalf of concerned residents. “This is no longer just flooding. It is a humanitarian and public health emergency.”
The crisis forced the indefinite closure of a community-built pedestrian bridge over the Badagry Expressway. The bridge, funded and constructed by residents, was a lifeline for schoolchildren, traders, workers, and the elderly. Its closure has paralyzed movement and deepened hardship.
Without urgent action, residents fear the worst. Stagnant floodwater raises the risk of cholera, typhoid, and malaria. More rain could push dozens of additional families from their homes.
Community Demands
The residents are asking the Lagos State Government, Olorunda LCDA, and LASEMA for two immediate actions:
- Deploy dredging equipment: Water bulldozers and desilting machines to clear the blocked Gada Canal and restore water flow.
- Send emergency relief: Food, medical aid, and temporary shelter for displaced households who have lost everything.
“A stitch in time saves nine,” the community’s statement reads. “The time to act is now, before this becomes a full-blown tragedy.”
The appeal also calls on traditional rulers, religious bodies, corporate organizations, and the media to amplify their cry for help.
_For updates or to support affected families, residents say they can be reached through community leaders in Gada–Ibiye, Olorunda LCDA via Chairman Dr. Fowowe S. S. 07065730467
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