For over 24 years, the community of Egbatedo Panada has struggled with persistent flooding due to a lack of adequate drainage infrastructure.
The area, made up of Olawoyin Street, Anipupo Street, Omitola Street, Shomefun Street, and Odejobi Street, falls within the Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and lies at a critical junction near the Pen Cinema Agege underbridge.
Despite its strategic location, the area’s infrastructural needs remain largely unaddressed, leaving residents vulnerable to constant flooding and associated economic challenges.
An official from the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources told The Record it was aware of the situation and was working on a solution.
Drainage issues compound flooding in community
Flooding is a persistent problem in Egbatedo Panada, leaving streets submerged and homes vulnerable.
The chairman of the Egbatedo Panada Community Development Association (CDA), Engineer Kunle Mumuni, disclosed to The Record that the issue stems from outdated and insufficient drainage systems that fail to channel water effectively.
“The major problem we have has always been that underground channel through the railway line. As we speak, that underground channel is even blocked. It cannot be, we cannot access it anymore because of this,” Mumuni said.
The chairman noted that a small drainage gutter was dug during the construction of the Lagos to Ibadan rail tracks. This helped to reduce the severity of the flooding. However, the railway tracks still get submerged in water during the rainy season.
“We’ve been pushing for years, but without the proper drainage systems, the flooding will continue to ruin our streets and impact our health and safety,” Mumuni said.
The Baale of Egbatedo Panada community, High Chief Ademosu Omitola Jacob, echoed the same frustration while speaking to The Record.
“Ever since I was little, which is over 50 years ago, this flooding situation has been disturbing the community. We are begging the state government to look into this and help us,” he said.
Decades of neglect leave roads in disrepair
In addition to flooding, the roads in Egbatedo Panada have long been neglected, leaving them in severe disrepair.
Engineer Mumuni expressed his frustration over the government’s failure to provide basic road infrastructure, noting that nearby areas have received attention while Egbatedo Panada remains overlooked.
“There is a railway just right [nearby], every street around us is [developed],” he said, questioning why the Egbatedo Panada community continues to be left out. “I see that as a refusal, because we are within town,” he added.
Mumuni pointed out the economic consequences of poor road conditions on local residents, as the inability to attract renters has affected property values.
“Properties that you rent out… they might rent it out for 700,000 [elsewhere]; we cannot rent out one more than 150,000,” he said. “Are we not living in the same Lagos?”
The CDA chairman also highlighted the strategic importance of Egbatedo Panada, which serves as a significant route for commuters coming from Agege. “This place is a main road,” he said. “Everybody must pass through this place.”
Lagos Govt Office of the Drainage responds
An official from the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources acknowledged the drainage challenges in Egbatedo Panada.
Speaking to The Record, Engineer Imagwu revealed that plans are underway to address the flooding. She noted that officials recently visited the community, accompanied by the CDA chairman, to investigate the situation.
“Yes, we are planning to take a project there. We are working on it. We are still investigating where the problem is and where the water leads to. We need to investigate properly before the problem can be solved so that it doesn’t cause havoc to any other communities,” she said.
For residents like Engineer Mumuni and High Chief Ademosu, the hope is that the Lagos government’s promises of action will finally translate into tangible solutions after decades of waiting.