By Abdullahi Lukman
Residents of Badia have been cut off by severe flooding caused by a blocked canal, with community leaders warning of rising risks and calling for urgent government intervention.
Chairman of the Community Development Association, Raymond Tejujaye, said mud from a nearby construction site had obstructed the canal, preventing water from flowing and causing widespread flooding across the area, including the Okere community.
He added that residents now face dangers such as reptiles in the floodwaters, making movement in and out of the community risky.
Tejujaye appealed to both state and federal authorities, particularly those managing ecological funds, to act swiftly to address the situation.
He also urged the lawmaker representing Apapa Federal Constituency to visit and assess the damage.
Residents say the flooding has displaced families and disrupted livelihoods. Sadiq Bello said his home was submerged after a recent downpour, forcing his family to seek shelter elsewhere.
Another resident, Chinedu, reported that he had been unable to open his shop due to the flooding, resulting in daily financial losses and damaged goods.
Community members blamed the situation on ongoing sand-filling activities, which they say began last year and redirected water into residential areas. According to Tejujaye, about 300 houses have been affected, with conditions expected to worsen as the rainy season intensifies.
A businessman, Towolawi Ramson, said stagnant water had crippled his hotel business and posed health risks, while a nursing mother described the living conditions as unbearable, citing mosquitoes, foul odours, and lack of resources to relocate.
Youth leader Kayode Ajayi noted that residents had attempted temporary fixes, but these efforts failed due to the absence of proper drainage.
Another community leader, Wasiu Onalapo, reiterated calls for federal intervention, warning that lives and property remain at risk.
Efforts to reach the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources spokesperson, Adekunle Adesina, were unsuccessful as of the time of reporting.
Flooding remains a recurring problem in many low-lying areas, often worsened by poor drainage and unregulated construction.
Experts warn that blocking natural waterways and sand-filling wetlands without proper environmental planning can lead to severe displacement and damage.
PUNCH METRO
