…Body of missing child recovered

Even days after the Monday morning downpour that submerged several parts of Lagos, conversations around the incident continue to trigger anxiety among residents, particularly those who were directly affected. For many in the metropolis’ coastal districts, the mere sight of a gathering cloud is now enough to send a chill down the spine.

The fear, unfortunately, is not misplaced. With warnings of more rainfall and the floods they bring, the aftermath of the storm remains a grim reminder of nature’s fury.

Communities such as Aboru in Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, Iyana-Ejigbo in Ejigbo Local Government Area, Adamo in Ikorodu Local Government Area and Oke-Elepe in Ijede LCDA were among the worst hit, with homes, cars and livelihoods submerged.

In addition to grounding economic activities statewide, the storm destroyed property worth millions of naira and rendered roads impassable for hours.

Body of missing child recovered in Ayetoro

Chairman of Agbado-Oke Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr Ernest Kasunmu, confirmed that a seven-year-old child swept away by the flood was later found dead at Mopo Junction in Ayetoro, Ogun State, four days after the incident.

“This is not the first time we’re seeing this. We have had children go missing, properties lost, but many cases go unreported,” he said.

While acknowledging efforts by the Lagos State government to mitigate the flood’s impact, Kasunmu lamented that current measures fall short.

“In Aboru, around the Erelu River bank, entire communities were underwater. The government dredged the canal last year, but flooding persists every time it rains,” he said.

READ ALSO:FG Warns Of Flooding In Lagos, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, 26 Others

He cited inadequate desilting, especially along the boundary with Ogun State, as a major issue, calling for consistent dredging of the lower stream that flows into Ogun.

Kasunmu also called for the demolition of buildings constructed along canal paths and urged the government to provide alternatives for those living in flood-prone zones.

“These wetlands are unsuitable for housing. But desperation, driven by hardship and housing scarcity, forces people to build there. Government housing isn’t affordable; they are not low-cost. We need inclusive solutions,” he said.

He further demanded community involvement in government contracts, noting that “in Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA, we are always at the receiving end.”

Poor topography, land grabbers behind Ikorodu flooding – CDC

In Ikorodu, the story was just as grim. Alhaji Lukman Shonibare, Secretary of the CDC, pointed to unregulated land sales, blocked drainage channels and poor topography as key culprits.

“Flooding wreaked havoc in Ajegunle and Gberigbe. Even newly constructed roads in Adamo were damaged,” he said.

He blamed unscrupulous land grabbers who sell swampy, lowland plots without drainage provisions.

READ ALSO:VIDEO: Lagos Residents Lament As Flood Overruns Communities

“There is no plan for water flow. That is why the Gberigbe road project by Governor Sanwo-Olu came as a relief; it included a proper drainage channel,” he noted.

Shonibare warned that the recurring floods will persist unless the government enforces planning regulations.

“Officials from Physical Planning and Environment ministries must visit these sites, assess the terrain, and enforce guidelines,” he said.

He added that waste dumping into gutters, often due to poverty and lack of waste disposal services, compounds the problem.

“Unfortunately, many CDA members are scared to speak up. You risk community backlash if you criticise the system,” he warned.

Abandoned road projects blamed for flooding

In Ijede LCDA, some residents blamed abandoned road projects for the current crisis.

According to Mr Saliu Oriyomi and Mr Ebun Campbell, the halted road construction at Itamaja and the lack of drainage in new estates were major contributors.

“There is no drainage in the new Oko-Ope estate. The Ijede road project was stopped at Gbodu junction. That is why flooding happens. The newly graded Adamo road has now been destroyed,” said Oriyomi.

READ ALSO:NiMet Forecasts Rain, Flash Floods Nationwide

Campbell pointed to rubble from ongoing construction on Agbole Road as the immediate cause of Monday’s flooding. “The river didn’t overflow, it was rain and blocked drainage from construction debris,” he said.

He lamented the economic toll, saying: “Many homes were flooded, and residents had to hire pumping machines. The losses are enormous.”

Iyana-Ejigbo Market built on drainage –Residents

Residents of Iyana-Ejigbo in Ejigbo Local Government Area said their troubles stem from a market built directly over drainage channels.

Ajagbe Taiwo, a resident of Rafiu Tijani Street, stated: “The market is the biggest obstruction to water flow. The road rebuilt by the last council chairman didn’t last. Rainfall immediately floods the T-junction, making the road impassable.”

He expressed the belief that until the market is relocated, flooding in the area will persist. “Water from Powerline and Ifoshi roads pools here; there’s no exit,” he said.

We are sensitising residents –Ejigbo LG chairman

Ejigbo Local Government Area chairman, Hon. Taoheed Taiwo, said his administration is actively engaging residents on proper waste disposal.

“The problem didn’t start today. We have begun sensitisation and desilting. We have deployed manpower to clear the drainage,” he stated.

READ ALSO:Floods: Ondo, Osun, Ekiti Map Risk Zones, Clear Waterways

He pointed to an ongoing road expansion from Daleko to Ori-Oke, which he believes will improve drainage in the long term.

Taiwo acknowledged street trading contributed to blocked drainage and praised the relocation of traders to the Iyana-Ejigbo market, while also stressing that many markets coexist with drainages without issues, provided cleanliness is maintained.

Government urges relocation from lowlands

In a Tuesday advisory, the Lagos State government urged residents in flood-prone areas to move to higher ground.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, emphasised the need for caution, especially in coastal Ikorodu and parts of Lekki.

“Lagos has experienced intense rainfall. People living on lowlands must move to uplands until the rains subside,” he said.

Yet, critics argue the state has been slow to enforce existing environmental laws.

Akeem, a resident of Raji Razak in Aboru, said stricter enforcement is essential.

“People dump refuse in gutters with impunity. This is one of the main causes of flooding. Until offenders, no matter how highly placed, are punished, this won’t stop,” he said.
(TRIBUNE)

Human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has been released from police custody.

Sowore had been detained at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory since Wednesday when he honoured an invitation from the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit.

The activist confirmed his release in a Facebook post.

He described his detention as “illegal and unjust.”

READ ALSO:Why Sowore Is Being Detained – Police

“The Nigeria Police Force has capitulated to the demands of the revolutionary movement. I have been released from unjust, illegal and unwarranted detention.

“However, it is nothing to celebrate, but thank you for not giving up!” he wrote.

His release comes hours after his supporters had staged protests in about five different states on Friday.

The West African Examinations Council, Nigeria, has released reviewed results for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, for school candidates, following the discovery of grading discrepancies that significantly affected candidates’ performance statistics.

In a press briefing on Friday, at the council’s national office in Yaba, Lagos, the Head of WAEC Nigeria, Dr. Amos Dangut, admitted to a serious error in the marking of serialised papers, which led to a misrepresentation of candidates’ performance.

“With deep sorrow and regret, I, on behalf of the Registrar to Council, Management and Staff of WAEC Nigeria, apologise for the discrepancies discovered in the grading of serialised papers.

“This is very difficult for us to say, but we have to admit that it is very embarrassing,” Dangut said.

According to him, the council had implemented a new security innovation known as paper serialisation, already in use by another national examination body.

READ ALSO:WAEC Under Fire As Results Portal Goes Down

However, during post-examination reviews, it was discovered that the English Language Objective Test (Paper 3) was scored using incorrect keys due to a wrongly assigned serialised code file.

Other serialised subjects included Mathematics, Biology, and Economics.

“We investigated and discovered that a serialised code file was wrongly used in the printing of the English Language Objective paper.

“This resulted in them being marked with incorrect answer keys. It is important to note that candidates who wrote the exams using the computer-based mode were not affected,” Dangut explained.

With the error corrected, 1,794,821 candidates — representing 91.14 per cent— obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects (with or without English and Mathematics).

READ ALSO:JUST IN: WAEC Shuts Down Result Portal Over Technical Issues

Notably, 1,239,884 candidates or 62.96 per cent, obtained five credits, including English and Mathematics, a significant improvement from the previously reported 38.32 per cent.

Of this number, 657,819 (53.05 per cent) were female, while 582,065 (46.95 per cent) were male candidates.

However, this still reflects a 9.16 per cent drop from the 72.12 per cent performance recorded in 2024.

WAEC reported that a total of 1,969,313 candidates sat for the examination, including candidates from schools in Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea, which operate the Nigerian curriculum.

The council also catered to 12,178 special needs candidates, including the visually impaired (112), hearing impaired (615), physically challenged (37), and spastic/mentally challenged (52). These candidates’ results have also been processed and released.

READ ALSO:VeryDarkMan Mocks Okpebholo Over Alleged Poor WAEC Results, Drags Portable, Fufeyin [VIDEO]

“All these candidates were adequately provided for in the administration of the examination,” said Dangut.

While 1,763,470 candidates (89.55 per cent) have had their results fully processed, 205,916 (10.45 per cent) still have one or more subjects pending due to technical issues.

WAEC assured all that efforts are ongoing to conclude processing and release outstanding results shortly.

Meanwhile, results of 191,053 candidates (9.7 per cent) have been withheld over allegations of examination malpractice.

This is lower than the 11.92 per cent recorded in 2024.

READ ALSO:WAEC Speaks On Rumoured Cancellation Of 2025 WASSCE Exams

Investigations are ongoing, and affected candidates can seek redress via waecinternational.org/complaints.

“WAEC will continue to sanction all cases of examination malpractice. All hands must be on deck to sanitise the system,” Dangut emphasised.

WAEC encouraged candidates to access their results via the official portal www.waecdirect.org and apply for their digital certificates, which will be available within 48 hours after result verification. Hard copy certificates will be ready within 90 days.

Dangut reminded all that candidates sponsored by indebted state governments would not have access to their results until the council receives payment.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: WAEC Shuts Down Result Portal Over Technical Issues

“We appeal to the concerned authorities to do the needful to enable affected schools and candidates to access their results,” he urged.

Dangut offered an unreserved apology to stakeholders.

“We acknowledge the emotional ordeal that candidates, parents, teachers, school administrators, Ministries of Education, and the media must have endured.

“This is a trying time for us at WAEC. We are doing everything we can to ensure this dismal situation does not recur,” he said.

WAEC also thanked the Federal Government, the Minister of Education, and state education bodies for their support during the review and resolution process.
(PUNCH)