By Peace Erewunmi

Hundreds of travellers were left stranded after heavy floodwaters submerged a section of the Benin–Ore Expressway, causing severe traffic congestion and disrupting movement along one of Nigeria’s busiest highways. The flooding followed hours of torrential rainfall, leaving motorists trapped in long queues as vehicles struggled to pass through the affected section.

Videos circulating on social media showed large portions of the expressway covered by floodwater, with passengers forced to wait by the roadside while drivers cautiously navigated the submerged roadway to avoid accidents and vehicle breakdowns.

The affected route, located around the Ore axis in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, is a major transport corridor linking Lagos and other South-West states with Edo, the South-South and South-East regions. The disruption delayed the movement of passengers, petroleum products and commercial goods across the corridor.

Residents and stranded motorists blamed the recurring flooding on prolonged rainfall, blocked drainage channels and poor water management. They called on the Federal Government and relevant authorities to implement lasting flood control measures to prevent future disruptions on the highway.

The Ondo State Government expressed sympathy with affected residents and travellers, stating that emergency response measures had been activated. The Commissioner for Environment said flood-prone areas were being assessed and that amphibious excavators would be deployed to clear blocked waterways and improve drainage in vulnerable locations.