Residents of Mushin and Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye continue to grapple with perennial flooding, as several parts of the community remain highly vulnerable whenever there is a heavy downpour.

A survey conducted by Mushines News identified five major flood-prone areas within the community:

1. Challenge Bus Stop along Agege Motor Road

2. Layi-Oyekanmi/Adeoyo Street

3. Isolo Road by Alafia Bus Stop

4. Olosha/Idi-Oro along Agege Motor Road

5. Akobi Crescent/Alamutu Area

At Challenge Bus Stop, along Agege Motor Road, flooding is caused by a narrow underground drainage that links Shokunbi Canal to Akingbola Street Canal. The channel is silted, preventing water from flowing properly. As a result, rainwater overflows onto the road, creating a pool-like situation. Motorists say it often takes over an hour after rainfall before the road becomes passable.

Mr. Ganiyu Lawal, a commercial driver, described the experience as frustrating:

“Our roads become impassable after rainfall. Passengers avoid the route, and we lose our daily income. The government must fix the drainage system,” he lamented.

At Layi-Oyekanmi/Adeoyo Street, residents say the flood persists because the wastewater channel to the express canal is only four feet wide. Mr. Afeez Baruwa, a resident, suggested that it be expanded to at least twelve feet. He further recommended regular desilting of the channel from Engr. Amu through Adeoyo Street, adding that construction defects currently push water back onto Layi-Oyekanmi Street.

“If these suggestions are implemented, the flooding will stop or subside within ten minutes after rainfall,” Baruwa stated.

Flooding at Olosha/Idi-Oro, Agege Motor Road, and Akobi Crescent/Alamutu is linked, as floodwaters from Olosha flow down to the Alamutu axis. In the past, the area was notorious for dangerous floods that claimed lives and properties. However, interventions by the Federal Government, Mushin Local Government, and Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye LCDA have reduced the severity.

Despite these efforts, the area still floods whenever it rains due to environmental issues such as blocked drainages and indiscriminate dumping of refuse. The location, being a valley, also attracts wastewater from Coker Street, Ojuwoye, and Akala.

Mr. Babalola Ajayi, a resident of Amodu Street, urged government to intensify efforts by desilting drainages before and after the rainy season.

At Isolo Road by Alafia Bus Stop, floods remain a recurring problem, particularly for businesses. Shop owners often count heavy losses when overnight rainfall submerges their goods.

Mrs. Aina Rasaq, a trader in the area, lamented:

“Each time it rains, water enters our shops and destroys our goods. We are tired of managing this situation without help.”

The Mushines News survey revealed that poor drainage networks, indiscriminate waste disposal, and inadequate flood control measures are the major causes of the problem. Business owners and motorists are often the hardest hit, with properties, goods, and vehicles submerged after rainfall.

A CDA leader in the Adeoyo area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the government is aware of the situation and has been working to control it.

“Since the assumption of office of the current chairman of Mushin LGA, Hon. Tunbosun Haruna Aruwe, efforts have been made to address environmental issues. These include de-silting drainages, reconstructing roads, and enforcing stricter sanitation laws to curb indiscriminate dumping of refuse,” he explained.

Community leaders have appealed to authorities for urgent and lasting solutions, stressing that the recurring floods pose not only economic hardship but also serious health and safety risks.

However, they emphasized that residents also have a role to play. They urged community members to avoid dumping refuse in drainages, participate in sanitation exercises, and report blocked gutters to local authorities.

With joint effort between government and residents, Mushin and Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye can significantly reduce the impact of flooding during the rainy season.