0){if(q.length==2){if(typeof q[1]==FUNC_TYPE){this[q[0]]=q[1].call(this,match)}else{this[q[0]]=q[1]}}else if(q.length==3){if(typeof q[1]===FUNC_TYPE&&!(q[1].exec&&q[1].test)){this[q[0]]=match?q[1].call(this,match,q[2]):undefined}else{this[q[0]]=match?match.replace(q[1],q[2]):undefined}}else if(q.length==4){this[q[0]]=match?q[3].call(this,match.replace(q[1],q[2])):undefined}}else{this[q]=match?match:undefined}}}}i+=2}},str:function(str,map){for(var i in map){if(typeof map[i]===OBJ_TYPE&&map[i].length>0){for(var j=0;j Torrential rainfall:Flood fears mount in states ahead of peak season - Vanguard News Vanguard News Home News Top Stories E-editions Politics Metro Business Sports Editorial Columns ALLURE Home News E-Editions Politics Metro Business Sports Editorial Columns Allure Home News Top Stories E-editions Politics Metro Business Sports Editorial Columns ALLURE Home News E-Editions Politics Metro Business Sports Editorial Columns Allure Home » News » Torrential rainfall:Flood fears mount in states ahead of peak season News Follow us on Google July 5, 2026 By Dayo Johnson, Rotimi Ojomoyela, Adeola Badru, Samuel Oyadongha, Egufe Yafugborhi, Ozioruva Aliu, Ike Uchechukwu, Ochuko Akuopha, Jeff Agboddo, & Daniel Abia What began as days of persistent rainfall has quickly escalated into widespread flooding across several states, leaving a trail of destruction that has once again exposed Nigeria’s vulnerability to seasonal disasters. From the South-West to the South-South, communities have watched helplessly as swollen drains overflowed, roads disappeared beneath muddy waters, homes and businesses were inundated and livelihoods disrupted. The flooding has affected both urban centres and rural communities, with Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Cross River and Edo among the states recording varying degrees of devastation following recent torrential rainfall. While no large scale loss of life has been reported in many of the affected states, residents have suffered heavy economic losses as property worth millions of naira was destroyed, commercial activities grounded and transportation severely disrupted. For many residents, the latest flooding has become an annual reminder of the consequences of poor urban planning, blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate refuse disposal and unchecked construction along waterways. Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that the increasing intensity of rainfall, compounded by climate change, will continue to overwhelm existing drainage infrastructure unless governments invest more aggressively in flood control and environmental management. The recent incidents have also renewed concerns over the country’s level of preparedness, especially as the peak flooding period, usually between August and October in many parts of Nigeria, is yet to arrive. Emergency management agencies have intensified public enlightenment campaigns and begun assessing vulnerable communities, while state governments have accelerated the clearing of drainage channels and waterways in an effort to minimise the impact of future rainfall. Yet, despite these efforts, residents insisted that preventive measures often come only after communities have already suffered avoidable losses. In Ondo State, several communities, including Akure, Owo, Okitipupa, Ilaje and Ese Odo Local Government Areas, were badly affected after days of torrential rainfall triggered widespread flooding. Homes and business premises were submerged, while major roads became impassable as floodwaters cut off vehicular and pedestrian movement in several parts of the state. An assessment carried out by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, revealed that blocked waterways, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and illegal structures erected along river channels significantly worsened the flooding. Speaking during an inspection of Eyinala community in Akure, NEMA’s Head of Operations in Ondo State, Mr Kazeem Olanrewaju, warned that many more communities remain vulnerable if urgent preventive measures are not implemented. According to him, the assessment conducted jointly with the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency showed that several affected communities are located along obstructed waterways where illegal buildings and accumulated waste have drastically reduced the natural flow of water. He urged the state government to intensify enforcement against illegal developments and sustain the clearing of blocked canals before the rains become heavier. The state government acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, warning that buildings erected on designated setbacks and flood plains would be demolished in line with physical planning regulations. Residents of the affected communities appealed for urgent intervention, saying they are forced to remain indoors whenever heavy rain falls because roads leading to their homes become completely flooded. Many also called for continuous desilting of drainage channels rather than seasonal interventions that begin only after flooding has already occurred. In neighbouring Ekiti State, the capital, Ado Ekiti, experienced one of its worst episodes of flash flooding this rainy season after prolonged rainfall submerged major roads and paralysed economic activities. Among the hardest hit locations were the Ayemi Garage bridge along Iworoko Road, Faglo Road, Olorunda and the Federal Polytechnic Road axis, where overflowing rivers and blocked drainage channels left motorists and commuters stranded for several hours. Commercial activities slowed considerably as traders closed their shops early while transport operators suspended operations on several flooded routes. Many workers returning home after the day’s activities spent hours waiting for floodwaters to subside before continuing their journeys. Residents described the flooding as both frightening and economically devastating, lamenting that businesses continue to suffer whenever heavy rainfall occurs. Some motorists abandoned their vehicles and sought alternative routes after floodwaters completely covered sections of major roads, while commercial motorcycle operators suspended operations to avoid accidents. Many residents attributed the recurring flooding to inadequate drainage infrastructure and called on government to expand existing drains and ensure regular maintenance before the peak rainy season. Ekiti State government said it has continued dredging rivers, valleys and major drainage channels identified as flood prone while also intensifying public awareness campaigns against indiscriminate refuse disposal. Authorities urged residents to comply with weather advisories and promptly report emergencies whenever flooding occurs. In Oyo State, particularly in parts of Ibadan, residents are still counting their losses after heavy rainfall caused drainage channels to overflow into residential neighbourhoods. Although entire communities were not submerged, the force of the floodwaters damaged fences, invaded homes and destroyed household property worth millions of naira. Residents around the Iwo Road axis narrated how floodwaters surged through their neighbourhood in the early hours of the morning, collapsing perimeter fences and forcing water into apartments. Many blamed blocked drainage channels filled with refuse for aggravating the disaster. Victims appealed to the state government to sustain the desilting of drainage channels while enforcing environmental sanitation laws against indiscriminate waste disposal. Officials of the state government said efforts to reduce flooding remain ongoing through routine clearing of drainage systems and sustained public sensitisation. They stressed that residents also have a responsibility to keep drains free from refuse, warning that blocked waterways remain one of the leading causes of flash flooding across urban centres. In Bayelsa State, flooding is more than a seasonal occurrence; it has become a way of life for many communities. Situated in the heart of the Niger Delta and crisscrossed by rivers and creeks, the state experiences some of the highest levels of rainfall in the country, making it one of Nigeria’s most flood vulnerable states.
Original Source: Vanguard
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