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Vehicular and human movements were severely disrupted on Tuesday following heavy flooding that submerged the Tomline section of Benin-Lagos Road, Edo State, after hours of downpour.
The rain, which began around midday, caused massive traffic congestion along the busy route as motorists were forced to navigate only one accessible lane out of the four-lane carriageway leading to the Uselu and University of Benin axis.
Many motorists abandoned the route and turned back for fear that their vehicles could break down in the floodwaters, while commercial bus drivers struggled through the deluge in a desperate bid to sustain their daily earnings.
The development also affected business activities in the area as several shop owners shut down operations and gathered helplessly around their premises, watching the flood take over the road.
Residents and business operators described the situation as a recurring nightmare, lamenting that the area has become notorious for flooding whenever there is heavy rainfall.
One of the affected business owners, who identified himself simply as John, described the yearly flooding as an embarrassment and a major threat to commercial activities within the area.
According to him, many residents and traders have contemplated relocating from the axis, but prevailing economic hardship has made such decisions difficult.
“It has become a yearly problem. It affects our businesses seriously, and one can only hope that the governor will extend the ongoing road repairs to this area, just like what is being done on Sapele Road,” he said.
John appealed to the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo to urgently intervene by rehabilitating the road and improving drainage infrastructure to permanently address the flooding challenge.
A commercial bus driver, Rueben Osas, also lamented the condition of the road, saying transport operators were left with no option but to continue working despite the risks posed by the flood.
“There is nothing we can do other than continue with 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 stated.
The incident once again raised concerns over poor drainage systems and recurring urban flooding in parts of Benin City, especially during the peak of the rainy season.
