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Hundreds of motorists and commuters were left stranded for several hours on Thursday after severe flooding submerged a section of the Benin-Ore-Ijebu Ode Expressway in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, disrupting traffic and forcing many travellers to seek alternative routes.
The flooding followed hours of heavy rainfall that also affected several communities, including Ondo town, Odigbo, Irele, Ode-Aye and Igbokoda, where homes, vehicles and other properties worth millions of naira were submerged. No casualties were reported.
The flooded section of the highway triggered a major traffic gridlock, leaving vehicles trapped for hours as motorists struggled to navigate the submerged road.
A resident of Ore, Segun, said many drivers who were familiar with the area diverted through the Okitipupa-Akinfosile-Omotosho route to reconnect with the expressway, although the alternative route significantly increased travel time.
“The traffic logjam on the expressway was too much today. The road had been taken over by flood, while some motorists who knew another route passed through the Okitipupa-Akinfosile-Omotosho road, which is a very long journey. Some travellers were stranded and were lamenting,” he said.
A commercial driver, Joshua Oladele, described the incident as a traumatic experience and urged the government to take urgent steps to prevent a recurrence.
“Everyone was stuck. No one imagined that this highway would be this affected by floods. An urgent intervention is needed before more havoc is wreaked,” he said.
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Residents of the affected communities appealed to the Ondo State Government and relevant agencies to tackle the recurring flooding that disrupts lives and destroys property during every rainy season.
Reacting to the incident, the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tob Loko, said the government had already identified several flood-prone areas across the state for intervention but noted that recent flooding had revealed additional locations requiring urgent attention.
He assured residents that the government remained committed to addressing the problem through coordinated and sustained efforts.
“It may not be possible to reach all affected areas at the same time, but the state government remains committed to addressing the challenge through coordinated, strategic, and sustained efforts,” Loko said.
The commissioner disclosed that amphibious excavators were being deployed through the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical and Ecological Control to carry out emergency clearing of blocked waterways and channelisation works.
He also urged residents to promptly report flooding and other environmental concerns to the Ministry of Environment and relevant authorities while cooperating with government efforts aimed at reducing the impact of flooding across the state.
