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Breaking News: “We Are Living in Hell”: Lagos Island Residents Cry Out Over Abandoned Road Projects, Flooded Homes, and Government Neglect
Residents of the historic Isale-Gangan community in Lagos Island West Local Government Area are crying out over what they describe as unbearable living conditions, following the ongoing and painfully slow road reconstruction projects that have rendered their environment nearly uninhabitable.
The affected areas include Isale-Gangan, Princess, Idumagbo, Ojo-Giwa, Aroloya, Binuyo, and Collins streets all currently impassable, with dug-up roads left unattended, homes flooded, and pedestrians struggling to navigate their own neighborhood.
According to multiple accounts gathered by Lagos Reporters, the roadworks, which began in September 2024, have progressed at a snail’s pace. Rather than bringing relief, the construction has brought chaos, hardship, and deep frustration.
“Must you do all the roads at the same time? Nothing seems to be working here. We can’t go in or out of our homes. The roads are not motorable, the area is flooded, and the situation is getting worse by the day,” one resident lamented to Lagos Reporters during an on-site visit.
One of the most heartbreaking impacts of the flooding is the forced closure of Awelenje Mosque, which has been abandoned due to stagnant water engulfing its premises. Worshippers no longer attend prayers there a sign of how deeply the crisis has disrupted daily life and community spirit.
“It feels like punishment. This is not development. It’s suffering,” another resident told Lagos Reporters.
But the suffering extends beyond roads and religious centers. For more than seven years, residents say they have been forced to drink salty water from their taps. Government officials, rather than provide a sustainable solution, have simply advised them not to drink it warning it is “not fit for human consumption.”
The resulting public health risks are severe. The entire area is plagued by foul odors, stagnant water, and an overwhelming mosquito infestation a dangerous combination many fear could soon lead to a cholera outbreak.
“The local government is turning into a slum,” one elderly resident said. “We are suffering in silence. It feels like Governor Sanwo-Olu has completely forgotten about Lagos Island especially this western side.”
Isale-Gangan and its environs are not just any communities; they represent a historically and politically significant region. The area is home to the foremost traditional ruler in Lagos State, is the first local government established in Nigeria, and has consistently delivered some of the highest voter turnouts for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Yet, many residents feel betrayed by the very political class they have long supported.
“We’ve produced some of the most prominent political figures in Lagos, and still this is how we are repaid?” a frustrated community leader asked in an interview with Lagos Reporters.
Lagos Island residents are now calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently fulfill his over six-year-old promise to restore Lagos Island to the standard befitting its heritage and political significance.
They are also demanding immediate action from prominent political figures representing the area, including Alhaji Tunde Balogun Danmole, Senator Sikiru Adebayo Osinowo Eshinlokun, Alhaji Mayegun, Hon. Bashiru Badru, Hon. Ajose, Hon. Damazio, Hon. Olorunoje, Hon. Affinih, and Olumegbon.
Lagos Reporters urges these leaders and stakeholders to rise to the occasion before the community slips into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.
The people of Lagos Island are not just calling for infrastructure; they are demanding dignity, safety, and the right to live in a clean, functional environment. The time to act is now.