Why Lagos roads are breaking down, Agency explains 

Lagos residents have been asked to exercise patience as persistent rainfall continues to damage roads and other public infrastructure across the state, making repairs more difficult.

The appeal was made by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation in a statement issued on Thursday by its Director of Public Affairs, Samuel Ayetutu, on behalf of the General Manager, Tokunbo Ajanaku.

The agency acknowledged the hardship being experienced by motorists, commuters and other road users due to the worsening condition of several roads. It, however, assured residents that maintenance teams remained on the ground to improve safety and keep roads accessible.

Ajanaku said the volume of rainfall recorded this year had been unusually high, stressing that the problem was not limited to Lagos, as many cities across the world had also suffered severe flooding and damage to infrastructure.

“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.

“In Lagos, however, the challenge is even more pronounced because of the state’s unique terrain, with large portions lying below sea level. This makes roads particularly vulnerable to persistent groundwater pressure and torrential rainfall.”

He explained that the corporation had taken advantage of the previous dry season to rehabilitate and maintain roads across the state before the rains began.

According to him, sustained rainfall has made it difficult to carry out permanent repairs because asphalt can only be laid effectively under dry conditions that guarantee durability.

“Continuous and heavy rainfall has limited the effectiveness of permanent road repairs, as engineering standards require dry weather conditions for durable asphalt works to achieve the desired quality and longevity.

“While LSPWC has continued to deploy its maintenance teams across the state to provide palliative interventions and repair potholes where conditions permit, many of the current repairs are necessarily temporary measures aimed at providing immediate relief and ensuring safer passage for road users.”

He added that engineers were closely monitoring roads across the state and responding to emergencies wherever possible. Comprehensive reconstruction of damaged roads, he said, would begin once weather conditions become favourable.

Ajanaku reiterated that the corporation remained committed to delivering durable road infrastructure rather than short-term fixes.

He also appealed to residents to help preserve public assets by avoiding the dumping of refuse into drainage channels. According to him, blocked drains contribute to flooding, speed up road damage and increase maintenance costs.

The appeal comes as many Lagos residents continue to express concern over deteriorating road conditions after weeks of heavy rainfall, with reports of expanding potholes, damaged road sections and worsening traffic.

Meanwhile, the state government says it has stepped up the clearing of drainage systems and intensified flood monitoring as part of measures to reduce the impact of the prolonged rainy season.