ASABA — Vehicular movement along the busy Old Lagos–Agbor Road in Boji-Boji Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, came to a grinding halt on Wednesday evening following several hours of intense rainfall that left the major road severely flooded.
The downpour, which began in the late afternoon and persisted well into the evening, inundated large sections of the road, trapping vehicles and sweeping away several motorcycles.
Commuters were left stranded as traffic slowed to a crawl and, in some areas, came to a complete standstill. While no casualties were reported, the flood caused significant disruptions to transport and property.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as drivers struggled to maneuver through the submerged sections of the road.
“Some motorists tried to drive through, but their vehicles were eventually stuck in the water,” said Chinedu Okonkwo, a commercial bus driver caught in the gridlock. “Many motorcyclists abandoned their bikes when the water started rising rapidly.”
The Delta State Government has expressed sympathy with residents affected by the flooding and reiterated its commitment to tackling environmental challenges across the state.
Speaking at a press conference in Asaba on Thursday, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, acknowledged the impact of the heavy rainfall in the Ika South axis and called for collective responsibility in mitigating the effects of natural disasters.
“Yesterday, most of you saw and witnessed the very heavy downpour across the state and the havoc it wreaked on some properties, particularly vehicles and motorcycles in the Ika axis,” Aniagwu said. “We are also aware that similar rains fell in other areas, but thankfully they were not as devastating.”
He emphasized that while the government is actively implementing flood control measures, residents must also adopt environmentally friendly practices to reduce the risk of such incidents.
“As a government, we have continued to take proactive steps to address flooding. In Asaba, for instance, the rain was equally heavy but did not result in the same level of disturbance, largely because of the drainage infrastructure we have put in place,” Aniagwu noted.
Highlighting efforts in road construction and drainage development, he said: “For the majority of roads we have constructed, we ensured the inclusion of dual drainage systems to handle stormwater effectively.”
Aniagwu urged citizens to desist from indiscriminate waste disposal, which contributes to blocked drains and water channels, exacerbating the risk of urban flooding.
Environmental experts have long warned that the increasing frequency of torrential rains, likely worsened by climate change, requires both government intervention and community cooperation. The incident in Boji-Boji Agbor underscores the vulnerability of some rural and semi-urban communities to extreme weather events.
While clean-up and recovery efforts continue, residents are being advised to remain vigilant and avoid traveling during heavy rainfall unless absolutely necessary. The state government also assured that relevant agencies have been deployed to assess damages and prevent a recurrence.
