Cyclist drowns, 200 displaced as rainfall wreaks havoc in Lagos

A motorcycle rider simply identified as Mr Abe was swept away after refusing to heed warnings from his colleagues not to ride along the Ile Epo Bus stop canal in Alimoso Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The rainfall which started at about 2 am on Saturday, continued till about 2 pm before it subsided, wreaked havoc in several communities like Papa Ashafa, and Fashola communities, at Orile Agege Local Government Area in Alimosho.

Several houses, office premises and roads were submerged in the flood. 

Speaking the development, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Zonal Coordinator South West, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), appealed to residents: "to take utmost precautions. 

According to Farinloye, "The National Emergency Management Agency and other emergency agencies are on assessment exercise at some flashpoints, discussions with affected populations and proffering immediate solutions in handling the situations.

"Officials of NEMA along with the Disaster Management Unit of the Nigeria Police, Lagos State Neighbourhood Security Corp in conjunction with the Community Development Associations of Papa Ashafa, Fashola and others have distributed emergency relief aid to the flood-impacted communities.

"Some vulnerable groups have moved to temporary save facilities while the adults are salvaging their water-impacted properties."

Explaining further, he disclosed that "NEMA is assisting the owner of a building where the fence collapsed and the need to salvage the building by reconstruction of the fence to solidify the base to prevent it collapsing on the next bungalow building.

"In addition, children wears, women wear, mattresses, antiseptic and other immediate assistance to the impacted population at Orile Agege Local Government Area to provide immediate succour to about 200 people this afternoon and materials are been loaded currently."

Meanwhile, the Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed has ordered the immediate release of relief materials to the people who have taken refuge in four churches in the areas.