Hundreds of motorists and commuters were stranded at the busy Uselu-Ugbowo-Lagos road in Benin City for several hours as a result of a downpour that resulted to flooding.
The situation led to several vehicles breaking done and passengers trekking and wading through the waters to navigate their ways to dry area to get commercial vehicles. Some commercial vehicles who usually load from Ring Road to Main Gate of the University of Benin and other areas in the axis were discharging their passengers around 5-Junction where they passed trek through the flood to connect vehicle after Uselu. Several private vehicles who dared to pass through the flood got stuckk after they broke down in the flood. Consequently, commercial vehicle operators who had to their fares which is usually N100 to between N400 and N500. A motorist who identified himself as Godwin Osahon sheared his experience and called on the state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to urgently intervene in the erosion menace that has become threat to life in the Ugbowo major highway whenever it rains. He said “What is responsible for this is that the drainages around here have not be disilted for a long time. I thought we have overcome this flooding with regular removal of blockages along the drainage channels.
According to him, “The drainages are there but they have been blocked. Over two hours after the rain had stopped, the road is still flooded. I think the state government is not doing enough. They seem to have abandoned us the masses to our fate and that is not fair.