Ogun State Government, Nigeria, has responded to concerns surrounding the massive flood around the newly constructed road leading to the recently opened Gateway Airport.

Reacting, the State's Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, reassured the "residents and road users of ongoing efforts to resolve the situation promptly."

According to him, "preliminary assessments indicate that the flooding recorded at a tiller-seller’s shop in Iperu Town occurred largely because the structure is situated below the current road level. This was further compounded by the obstruction of the drainage channel in front of the shop, which impeded the free flow of stormwater and led to overflow."

He also said that "assessment revealed that a heap of laterite, remnants from earlier construction works, clogged sections of the drainage channel along the corridor. This obstruction significantly impeded the discharge of stormwater and contributed to the flooding experienced. It is also important to note that the intensity of the rainfall at the time was unusually high, which increased stormwater volume."

He further assured that the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, had "directed the immediate mobilization of equipment to site to clear all clogged sections, remove laterite blockages, and fully open up the affected drainage channels, including the outfall/discharge channels away from the road, to restore the free flow of stormwater. As an interim measure, labourers have already been deployed and are currently clearing and packing the accumulated sand and laterite from the drainage paths, pending the arrival of a grader and other heavy-duty equipment to expedite the process and ensure a thorough cleanup."

However, some concerned citizens expressed their displeasure over the none availability of proper drainage channels on the road as evidenced in the screenshot X chats below:

Just last week, an Ogun State resident sent out a tweet for the government to take urgent action to guide against further loss of lives whenever that road axis was flooded-