Hundreds of motorists and passengers were stranded for several hours after severe flooding submerged portions of the Lagos-Ore-Benin Expressway in Ondo State, disrupting traffic and exposing the growing threat posed by seasonal flooding across Nigeria.
The incident occurred following hours of torrential rainfall that inundated sections of the major highway near Odigbo Local Government Area, creating massive gridlock and preventing the free movement of vehicles along one of the country’s busiest transport corridors.
The Lagos-Ore-Benin Expressway serves as a critical route linking the South-West with the South-South and South-East regions, facilitating the movement of goods, petroleum products and passengers. The flooding therefore caused significant disruption to economic activities and travel plans.
Several motorists described the experience as distressing, saying they remained trapped for hours as floodwaters overtook the road.
One stranded traveller, Joshua Oladele, said the situation highlighted the urgent need for government intervention.
“Everyone was stranded. We never imagined that the Lagos-Ore-Benin Expressway could be overtaken by floods. The government needs to intervene urgently to prevent this from happening again,” he said.
Beyond the highway, the downpour also affected several communities across Ondo State. In Ondo town, floodwaters reportedly submerged areas including Itanla Junction, Onipakala Junction and the UNIMED Road, causing extensive damage to homes, businesses and vehicles.
Some vehicles belonging to staff members of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) were reportedly damaged as workers attempted to reach their workplaces amid the flooding.
Communities in Odigbo, Irele, Ode-Aye and Igbokoda also experienced severe flooding, forcing many residents to abandon their homes temporarily and seek safer shelter.
Although no deaths were recorded, residents reported widespread destruction of property and displacement of families.
Many affected residents blamed poor drainage systems, blocked waterways and prolonged rainfall for the severity of the flooding. They urged authorities to implement long-term flood-control measures rather than relying solely on emergency responses.
Responding to the incident, Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, said the government had activated emergency measures to mitigate the impact of the disaster.
He explained that flood-prone areas had previously been identified for intervention but acknowledged that recent flooding revealed additional locations requiring urgent attention.
Loko disclosed that amphibious excavators were being deployed to strategic areas to clear blocked waterways and improve water flow.
He also appealed to residents to promptly report flooding incidents and environmental hazards to relevant government agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains essential to effective disaster management.
The latest flooding has renewed concerns about climate-related disasters and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure across Nigeria during the rainy season.
