Hundreds of commuters and motorists have been left stranded after floodwaters submerged a section of the Ore-Benin road along the Lagos–Benin expressway, causing massive traffic gridlock and disrupting movement on the busiest highways.

The flooding, triggered by hours of torrential rainfall, forced vehicles to move slowly through the submerged section while many others remained trapped in long queues stretching several kilometres.

Sever videos obtained by the Nation and circulating on social media showed a vast expanse of water covering the affected portion of the expressway, with motorists struggling to navigate the flooded road amid fears of possible accidents and vehicle breakdowns.

Some passengers, in one of the footages, were seen waiting by the roadside while others expressed frustration over the recurring flooding on the strategic highway, which serves as a major gateway linking, Ondo, Lagos and the South-West to Edo State and the South-South region.

One of the stranded motorists, identified simply as Henry in the footages, described the experience as traumatic, calling on government authorities to urgently intervene before the situation deteriorates further.

“Everyone is stuck here. We need urgent government attention right now. We are on our way to Lagos from Ondo State when we saw this. The situation is terrible,” he said in one of the viral video clips.

It was gathered that the flood caused severe delays for travellers, many of whom reportedly spent several hours on the road as drivers cautiously manoeuvred through the flooded section.

The latest flooding has once again highlighted the vulnerability of the Ore axis of the federal highway, particularly during the peak of the rainy season when heavy downpours often overwhelm drainage channels and inundate parts of the road.

The Ore-Benin corridor remains one of Nigeria’s most strategic transport routes, serving as a vital economic lifeline for the movement of goods, petroleum products and passengers between the South-West, South-South and South-East regions. (The Nation)

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