After two days of torrential rainfall, the reports have begun to pour in, Lagos is again underwater. The annual Lagos flood has become a rite of passage for Lagos JJC’s and an annoying but expected inconvenience for veterans.

 

Dopemu, Lagos…. You can tell from the wastes in the water that the drains are blocked. pic.twitter.com/xHI17PRwZS

— Series Abíọ́dún ♠ (@Engr_Series) June 18, 2020

“@tfortaiwo: Ikorodu Road >>Ojuelegba>>Marina flooded and expected traffic quite a tight one. Above all we bless God for showers of blessings @Gidi_Traffic pic.twitter.com/MpoFFBo5PX

— ?????ℝ????ℂ (@Gidi_Traffic) June 18, 2020

I just don’t know how to describe what my street look like atm. This is my compound in Adeola Kareem Street Onikanga Ayobo Lagos.. please we need help ???? #Lagosflood #Flood #Lagos pic.twitter.com/BzliQSNfIe

— Alpha_male (@IamOluberry) June 18, 2020

We have all come to expect that during the summer months, homes will be flooded, millions of naira worth of properties will be destroyed. Sometimes, we mourn collectively as a nation as bright young people lose their lives thanks to the negligence of the government to enforce proper drainage and sanitation and ensure citizens are protected during eventual floods. Last year’s most prominent victim was Adediwura Bello, a young professional who was swept into a canal during a flood and lost her life. We mourned her because we knew her death could have been prevented.

At this point, the government’s refusal to prepare for the eventuality of flooding or preempt it by creating awareness campaigns or initiatives that reward citizens for properly disposing their waste and ensuring that canals in their communities are cleared of debris and invasive plants that choke up flood pathways is negligence. We must call it that, as much as we must call out the refusal of citizens to do their part. And until both parts, government and citizens work collectively towards solving this problem, we will continue to have casualties, damage to life and property and poor solutions.