Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) is appealing for public patience as prolonged heavy rainfall continues to damage roads across the state, causing potholes, failed road sections and worsening traffic congestion.
The agency says engineers are carrying out temporary repairs where possible while preparing for permanent rehabilitation once weather conditions improve.
In a statement issued on Thursday, LSPWC says the persistent rains have triggered flooding and accelerated the deterioration of road infrastructure across Lagos.
General Manager Tokunbo Ajanaku says the unusually high rainfall is part of a broader pattern of extreme weather affecting cities around the world.
“It is important to note that the unusually high volume of rainfall recorded this year is not peculiar to Lagos alone. Across many cities around the world, extreme weather conditions have led to flooding and significant damage to public infrastructure,” Ajanaku says.
He explains that Lagos is particularly vulnerable because much of the state lies below sea level, exposing roads to persistent groundwater pressure and torrential rainfall.
According to Ajanaku, the corporation carried out extensive maintenance and rehabilitation works during the last dry season, but continuous rainfall has limited the effectiveness of permanent asphalt repairs.
“Continuous and heavy rainfall has limited the effectiveness of permanent road repairs, as engineering standards require dry weather conditions for durable asphalt works,” he says.
He adds that maintenance teams remain deployed across the state to carry out palliative repairs and fill potholes where weather conditions permit, although many of the interventions are temporary.
The corporation says engineers are monitoring roads across Lagos for emergency interventions and will commence permanent repairs once the rains subside.
Ajanaku also urges residents to stop dumping refuse into drainage channels, warning that blocked drains worsen flooding, accelerate road deterioration and increase maintenance costs despite ongoing drainage clearing and flood-control efforts by the Lagos State Government.
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Hussaini Ibrahim 