By Awyetu Asabe Hope
Vehicular and human movement were disrupted on Tuesday after heavy flooding submerged the Tomline section of Lagos Road in Benin City, Edo State, following prolonged rainfall.
The downpour, which started around midday, caused severe gridlock as motorists were forced to use only one lane of the four-lane road leading to the Uselu and University of Benin axis.
Some drivers turned back for fear their vehicles could break down in the flooded area, while commercial bus operators struggled through the deluge to continue their daily activities.
Several business premises in the area were shut as floodwaters overtook the road, leaving owners stranded outside their shops.
A trader, John, described the recurring flooding as a major setback for businesses and residents in the area.
“It has become a yearly problem.
It affects our businesses seriously, and we can only hope that the governor will also look into repairing this road just like he is doing on Sapele Road,” he said.
John appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo to extend ongoing road rehabilitation projects to the affected axis.
A commercial bus driver, Rueben Osas, said operators had no choice but to continue working despite the risks posed by the flood.
“There is nothing we can do other than continue our work and hope that our vehicles do not break down.
However, the state government can help fix the road so that this yearly flooding will become a thing of the past,” he said.
