Floods Kill Cars, Raise Mechanics

Lagos car owners count losses as floods ground vehicles and boost mechanics’ profits, GEORGE OKOJIE.

For Lagos car owners, the rains mean submerged engines, towing bills, and weeks in the garage. For mechanics and auto-electricians, it’s flood season: backlogs, overtime, and cars lining the street from Ikeja to Oshodi.

The state remains particularly vulnerable to flooding because about one-third of its landmass is covered by water, and some parts of the state, including Lagos Island, Victoria Island and Ikoyi, lie below sea level.

The recent flooding that affected some residents and sent motorists to mechanic workshops was exacerbated by exceptionally high rainfall and elevated sea levels, which prevented stormwater from flowing naturally into lagoons and rivers.

Narrating his ordeal to LEADERSHIP Weekend, a motorist who identified himself as Ferdinand Seun said the rain caught up with him around the Ojodu Berger area of Ikeja. He continued driving through the rain and encountered massive flooding on Obafemi Awolowo Way.

I had to stop around Olowu in Ikeja when my vehicle started making cracking sounds after driving through flooded roads. I waited for the flood to recede, hoping the vehicle would be able to pick up when it was no longer submerged. But it did not start. I had to tow the vehicle with N120,000 to the Mechanic village in Anthony to fix the problem,’’ Seun said.

He is not the only motorist whose vehicle was affected by the flooding caused by the daily torrential rains across the state.

Another motorist, Oluwole Clement, whose vehicle was being repaired at the mechanic’s workshop, said, ‘‘I drive a 2015 Lexus RX 350, and the vehicle stalled immediately it was submerged in the flood. I tried to restart the vehicle, but it would not start. The technicians told me that the flood had damaged some components. It will cost me about N350,000 to repair.‘’

James Tunbuson, a commercial driver plying the Obalende to Lekki route, said at a mechanic’s workshop that he experienced severe traffic congestion due to flooded roads, making movement difficult.

He said, ‘‘I was in traffic for a long time. It caused my vehicle to overheat, and now the mechanic said the top gasket is burnt. I will have to go and look for money to buy another gasket. The whole place is flooded. The state government should address flooding in Lagos. You will now see that whenever it rains heavily in Lagos, many businesses suspend operations, and many property owners battle to prevent floodwater from damaging their belongings. Floods will damage your vehicle.’’

Chief Executive Officer of Automedics Nigeria, Engineer Kunle Sonaike, has admonished motorists against driving through flooded areas, saying that whenever they encounter a flood, they should turn around and never attempt to drive through the water.

According to him, it is difficult to see what lies beneath the water, and driving through floods can cause severe vehicle damage.

Sonaike explained that floodwaters can trigger a hydraulic lock, permanently damaging engines and destroying electrical control modules.

The popular auto engineer also warned against driving through deep water, saying that attempting to restart a flooded engine could be catastrophic.

Sonaike, who maintained that driving through floods could trigger Hydrolock (Hydrostatic Lock), added that stalled vehicles in floodwater could draw water into the engine cylinders via the air intake.

According to him, attempting to restart the engine with water in the cylinders will bend or break the connecting rods, causing total engine failure and electrical faults.

He explained that modern vehicles are heavily computerised, with sensors, noting that flooding often shorts out critical Engine Control Units (ECUs), sensors, and wiring harnesses, leading to erratic performance or rendering the vehicle immobile.

Sonaike said floodwater can easily breach the engine oil, transmission, and differential fluid reservoirs, requiring immediate flushing and replacement to prevent systemic internal damage.

Regarding Suspension and Brakes, he noted that massive potholes beneath murky floodwaters are difficult to detect in the rain, adding that running into them can severely damage suspension struts, wheels, and steering components.

He said water-submerged brakes temporarily lose their stopping power.

On the way out of the seasonal problem, warns drivers not to attempt to restart the engine when stalled in floodwater, saying the immediate thing to do is to turn the ignition off to prevent hydro lock.

He advised that vehicles stalled in floodwater should be pushed to dry, higher ground if it is safe to do so, and that the battery should be disconnected to prevent electrical short-circuiting. The owner called a professional mechanic to inspect the vehicle.

As the rains pound the Lagos metropolis, the Lagos State Government has called for calm and understanding from residents following the massive flash flooding in many parts of the State over the last two weeks, just as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the immediate dredging and maintenance of 28 additional primary channels across the State.

Speaking against the backdrop of the heavy downpours which caused flash floods in many communities, the state’s commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab said the rainfalls were an extreme weather event that produced an unusually high volume of water within a short period, overwhelming drainage channels in some locations and resulting in temporary flooding across parts of Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikeja, Gbagada, Mushin, Mafoluku and several other areas.

According to the Commissioner, the incident was not peculiar to Lagos, as a similar heavy rainfalls also affected other African Countries on the same day, even in North America resulting in flooding across some cities, noting that while Lagos and these cities have coastal and hydraulic characteristics, Lagos presents a much more complex hydrological system due to its extensive network of lagoons, tidal water bodies, rivers and creeks, as well as significantly higher rainfall intensity.

He explained that the interaction among the Atlantic Ocean, Lagos Lagoon, and numerous rivers and creeks, particularly at high tide, naturally slows the discharge of stormwater into the sea, resulting in temporary inundation in some low-lying areas during exceptionally heavy rainfall.

Wahab assured residents that the Lagos State government remains fully on top of the situation through continuous monitoring of drainage infrastructure, flood-prone locations and other critical water channels, adding that emergency response agencies have remained on the ground to ensure that floodwaters recede as quickly as weather conditions permit while providing support where necessary.

The Commissioner stressed that while the state government continues to invest significantly in drainage construction, channelisation, desilting, and other flood-control infrastructure, residents also have an important role in reducing the impact of flooding.

He urged residents to desist from indiscriminate disposal of refuse into drains, canals and waterways, illegal reclamation of wetlands, construction on drainage alignments and other activities that obstruct the free flow of stormwater, noting that such actions worsen flooding during periods of intense rainfall.

Wahab stated that the effects of climate change are increasingly evident worldwide, with coastal cities experiencing more frequent and intense rainfall.

“Lagos is not exempt from these realities. However, the State Government remains steadfast in its commitment to building a flood-resilient city through sustained infrastructure development, environmental enforcement and active collaboration with residents,” he said.

He reiterated that protecting Lagos from the impacts of flooding is a shared responsibility and called on all residents to support government efforts by keeping drainage channels clear of waste and reporting any activity that could obstruct the free flow of stormwater.

He also advised motorists to avoid driving through flooded roads during heavy downpours. He appealed to residents, particularly those in flood-prone areas, to heed weather advisories and comply with safety instructions issued by relevant government agencies, which the ministry issues daily.

He thereafter reaffirmed the Lagos State government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property through proactive flood management measures. He urged residents to continue cooperating with the government to build a cleaner, safer, and more resilient Lagos.