Lifestyle

Motorists stranded as flood overruns Lagos communities

Published

6 months ago

September 25, 2025

Vehicular and business activities were paralysed across parts of Lagos State on Wednesday after hours of heavy downpour triggered flash floods in several communities in the state.

It was observed that the downpour wreaked havoc in flood-prone areas across the state, which included Maryland, Lekki, Ogba, and Ikorodu.

This is as residents and business owners lamented how their homes and shops were overrun by the flood.

Similarly, multiple videos seen across social media platforms by our correspondents showed residents wading through their flooded neighbourhoods, while motorists were also seen moving at a slow pace on flooded roads.

On Olatunji Street in Maryland, the overflow of a canal cut off access to the adjoining Mende community.

A resident, Chinasa Nnadi, said the flood had been a recurring sight whenever it rained and as long as the residents in both neighbourhoods could remember.

She said, “This has been happening for years now, and it’s very hard for vehicles to go in or out of there. People even swim to their houses. It is not easy for people living around there to come out of their houses because the flood is too much. Some will even go as far as relocating to another place due to the flood.”

A business owner who identified himself simply as Kalu and had lived there for three years said he was amazed at how quickly the flood spread across the street.

He said, “I watched as people tried to scoop water out of their homes after it entered their houses. I also suffered the same fate as the water flowed into my shop.”

A member of a church in the area, identified simply as Christiana, also narrated how the worship centre was flooded, destroying some instruments in the process.

She said, “The flood has affected our church’s musical instruments. We will have to spend lots of money either to fix or replace them. When the canal is full, the water gets into the church, and it reaches half the building of the church, it causes extreme damage.”

The downpour, however, compounded the woes of motorists and pedestrians as they were trapped in the gridlock that built up on several flooded roads across the state.

In some areas, vehicles broke down on the waterlogged roads, worsening the situation for commuters who spent long hours waiting to board buses.

In its usual look during a downpour, the Ogba-Wempco junction was flooded, affecting vehicular movement in the area.

Sharing his experience, a commuter, Tunji Abass, lamented how he spent longer time hours in traffic due to the flood.

“The vehicles were moving very slowly due to the flooded portion of the road. It has always been like that during the rainy season. It becomes even worse times that water flows into people’s vehicles. The earlier the government attends to this, the better.”

A resident working in the Ikate area of the state, Victor Obinna, while also lamenting, explained that he resorted to sleeping in the office whenever it rained due to gridlock in the area.

He added that the road linking to his office used to be flooded, and he had to navigate through the water to get there.

He said, “I stay in the office all through the week, and whenever I don’t stay in the office, I walk through the flood before getting to the office. Sometimes, I even had to dress up in the office because by the time I got to the office, half of my body would have been soaked.”

Some weeks ago, PUNCH Metro reported that property worth millions of naira was destroyed in the Ikorodu area of the state.

A video sighted by a correspondent on Wednesday showed how some roads in the community were flooded.

The economic cost of flooding in Lagos is estimated at billions of naira annually, with residents losing homes, shops, vehicles, and man-hours to gridlock. Public health is also at risk, as stagnant floodwater often leaves behind outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

The Lagos State Government, however, sympathised with residents affected by the flash floods that swept through parts of the state, assuring that efforts were ongoing to tackle recurring incidents.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement on Wednesday, said Lagos, being a coastal city, remained vulnerable to flooding, especially during heavy rainfall and tidal lock.

He, however, noted that the government had continued to invest in drainage infrastructure, desilting, and enforcement of environmental laws to minimise the impact on residents.

Giving clarity on some affected areas, Wahab explained that flooding around the Kusenla area of Lekki was caused by a technical challenge, adding that the downstream was higher than the existing drainage system.

He added that the government had already awarded a project that included the construction of a pumping station to address the problem.

He further revealed that flooding near the House on the Rock church was linked to illegal construction on floodplains and indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drains, stressing that such activities worsened the situation.

“Clear infractions were observed in some of the videos shared yesterday. The state government will ensure that illegal structures, obstructions, and reclamations carried out without proper approvals are promptly removed,” Wahab said.

“We appeal for understanding and continued cooperation from the public. Keeping our environment clean, refraining from dumping refuse into drains, and avoiding construction on floodplains are vital to achieving a flood-free Lagos. In several of the videos shared yesterday, clear infractions were observed, and @followlasg will ensure that such illegal structures and obstructions are promptly removed. Including those illegal reclamations carried out without the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment Report and the Drainage Clearance.

“We also wish to assure residents that the flooding was a flash flood in some parts of the state and has since receded this morning. The ministry remains committed to strengthening our flood management systems, but this effort requires the support and responsible actions of all Lagosians. Together, we can build a safer, cleaner, and more resilient Lagos,” the statement added.

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Lifestyle

Nollywood actress Sarah Martins apologises for roadside cooking

Published

2 days ago

March 11, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Nollywood actress Sarah Martins has formally responded to the Lagos State Government’s warning regarding her recent public cooking activity, clarifying that the event was an emotional reconnection with vulnerable children rather than a deliberate breach of environmental laws.

The response comes after the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Saturday, cautioned the actress against cooking on public roads, warning that she risks arrest and prosecution if she continues the practice.

In an open letter posted on her Instagram handle on Sunday, Martins, the founder of the Sarah Martins Golden Heart Foundation, sought to set the record straight, stating that the meal was prepared in a controlled environment.

“I would like to respectfully clarify that I did not cook on the walkway or on the main street.

“The meal was prepared in front of the King’s Palace under the supervision of security personnel, and the activity took place very far from the main road, ensuring that it did not obstruct movement or create any public nuisance,” she wrote.

Explaining the motivation behind the act, the actress described it as a response to the pleas of street children she frequently encounters.

“The visit was simply born out of an emotional moment. I had deeply missed the bond I share with the vulnerable street children in that area,” she explained.

“As I occasionally drive past that axis, the children often plead with me to come back and cook with them like I used to. On this particular day, I decided to spend some time with them and prepare a meal, purely to reconnect and create memories with the kids who have always shown me genuine love,” she added.

The actress offered an apology to the state government for any perceived impropriety, saying, “My brief return to that location was never intended to create any form of public nuisance, but simply to share a heartfelt moment with children who have continued to ask for my presence.

“However, if my actions were perceived as inappropriate in any way, I sincerely apologide. I hold the laws and environmental standards of Lagos State in the highest regard.

“Going forward, I will ensure that all cooking activities are carried out strictly within the charity kitchen provided for the foundation.”

In her response, Martins also expressed gratitude to Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son, noting that his donation of a charity kitchen was specifically intended to ensure her feeding programs are conducted in a proper and organised environment, which she said her foundation remains committed to using.

PUNCH Online reports that Martins was arrested in October 2025 by KAI officials while she was cooking on a road median in Lekki, seizing her equipment.

The Lagos State Government defended the operation, with Wahab stating that the actress had engaged in unauthorised activities on public infrastructure in contravention of environmental and sanitation regulations.

While she previously claimed to have received ₦20 million from his office, Seyi Tinubu reportedly denied making the donation personally, saying some friends, moved by compassion, had raised funds to help her secure a proper space for her charity work, but stressed that he did not support any act that violated Lagos State laws.

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Lifestyle

My father fought well to stay alive – Onigbinde’s son

Published

3 days ago

March 10, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Mr Oyekunle Onigbinde, the last child of the late national coach Festus Onigbinde, has said that although his father was sick, he fought well to stay alive.

Oyekunle made the remarks in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan on Tuesday.

Describing his father as a generous man who cared for everyone, Oyekunle said his death on Monday came as a huge shock.

“He fought well to stay alive.

“He was sick, but due to old age, his body couldn’t fight the recovery.

“My father was very accommodating; he pulled everyone together.

“He didn’t care who you were; he just wanted everyone happy and united.

“He was the string that knitted many together,” he said.

Meanwhile, renowned sports analyst Tayo Balogun told NAN that his 40-minute phone conversation with Onigbinde in 2025 would forever linger in his memory.

“We went down memory lane, and I thanked him for being who he was: painstaking, foresighted, forthright, forthcoming, and incredibly hardworking.

“I told him I appreciated him and that I was calling to let him know that his contributions to Nigerian football will always be footnoted in history.

“During the call, I noticed his voice had lost some of its vibration. He attributed this to old age, claiming he was as fit as a fiddle.

“He asked after my TV Gang of Feyi Ogunduyile and Modele Sarafa-Yusuf (then known as Oshiinaike),” he said.

Balogun said he praised Onigbinde for his contributions to Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).

“He actually changed the name from IICC Shooting Stars.

“I asked him if he remembered that I asked him why he was practising penalty kicks after 3SC had comprehensively beaten Tonnere Kalara Club of Yaounde at the Liberty Stadium, just before the second-leg match.

“He told me Remi Asuni, the then Oyo State FA Chairman, asked him the same question and that he answered, ‘If we can beat them 4-0 in Ibadan, they may pay us back in Yaounde,’” he said.

The 73-year-old analyst said he also praised Onigbinde for his bravery in selecting players for the 2002 World Cup.

“I told him I understood why he included Mutiu Adepoju, but did not understand why he didn’t play him in any of the matches.

“He said that was the only mistake he made, but that if I noticed, we were quite close in all the matches we played, and if he brought in Mutiu and we lost, it would be blamed on Adepoju,” he said.

Balogun described Onigbinde as the most thorough Nigerian coach he knew.

“Each year, he would draw up a list of requirements for his team.

“With Shooting Stars, he would get 20 per cent, and with the Eagles, he didn’t even get 10 per cent.

“All the same, he got spectacular results with both teams.

“He was the first coach to take a group of rookies like Chibuzor Ehilegbu, Paul Okoku, Femi Olukanmi, and others to Ghana and beat the then-dreaded Black Stars in their country.

“Onigbinde’s memory will remain indelible.

“He was a gentleman, humble, and highly intelligent.

“I am glad I got to know you, sir,” he said.

(NAN)

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Lifestyle

The Name Given To Me By My Parents Was A Curse – Phyna

Published

5 days ago

March 8, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Reality TV star, Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has opened up about the struggles she faced while growing up and why she does not like the name given to her at birth.

During a recent interview with Ezinne Akudo on the show Beyond With Ezinne, the former Big Brother Naija winner said her parents named her Blessing, but she came to dislike the name because her life did not reflect its meaning.

It was reports that Phyna explained that as she was growing up, many parts of her life were very difficult.

According to her, she often felt like she was always begging for love from people around her, including family members, friends and even in relationships.

She said the situation made her feel as if the name Blessing did not match the experiences she was going through.

The reality star also spoke about the pain she felt after the death of her sister. She said the loss deeply affected her, and at one point, she even wished she could die because of the emotional burden she was carrying at the time.

She said, “The name given to me by my parents is Blessing. My reasons for hating that name was you don’t see sense of blessing in my life. Because you know, it felt like I was always begging for love, family love, friendship, even in relationships. In fact, Dem don use am curse me. All aspects of life for me, growing up was very crazy. Even when you’re a teenager, there are things you could get from parents, from friends, family I didn’t have that, but I knew for one that I was going to be big.

“Then I always tell my aunts, everybody, even when they beat me or maltreat me, today, the next minute I will see when I go watch me for television, you know, I go get money. People always say negative things about me. Even when I’m trying my best, it affects me. It affects my workload. They are quick to broke shame me. In fact, when my sister died, I wanted to die. A lot was going on with me. It actually makes me feel God is with me because so many things have happened that I suppose don really run mad.”

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