Three luxury vehicles were crushed and properties worth millions of naira destroyed on Friday, as a violent rainstorm swept through Asaba, the Delta State capital, leaving a trail of devastation across major roads, residential neighbourhoods and business districts.
The vehicles—a Mercedes-Benz GLK, a Mercedes-Benz GLS and a Lexus saloon car—were damaged beyond repair after a giant billboard opposite the Delta State Police Headquarters, along Okpanam Road collapsed on them during the storm.
The heavy downpour, accompanied by strong winds, also destroyed more than 20 billboards, uprooted electricity poles, ripped off roofs of buildings and triggered flooding in several parts of the city, causing panic among residents and motorists.
Eyewitnesses at the scene of the vehicle incident said the billboard suddenly gave way under the force of the wind, crashing onto the parked vehicles.
Although no casualties were reported, the owners of the vehicles were left counting huge losses.
The storm’s impact was equally felt across the outdoor advertising sector, with numerous political and commercial billboards brought down by the winds.
Among those affected were billboards bearing the images of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Several campaign billboards belonging to aspirants and candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as promotional materials mounted by support groups for President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori, were also destroyed.
Power infrastructure was not spared, as several high-tension and low-tension electricity poles collapsed in different parts of the city. At Ogaghifo Street, off DBS Road, residents reported that more than five electricity poles were brought down by the storm, raising fears of prolonged power outages in the affected areas.
Several buildings also suffered varying degrees of damage as roofs were blown off by the strong winds. Tarpaulin car parks and protective canopies in residential and commercial premises were similarly destroyed.
Along Summit Road, a massive billboard collapsed near the former Shoprite complex, obstructing traffic and causing a major gridlock as motorists struggled to navigate the affected section of the road.
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Flooding was recorded in several areas of the state capital hours after the rainfall. DLA Road was among the worst-hit locations, with large sections submerged by floodwaters, disrupting movement and exposing long-standing drainage challenges in the city.
A tour of affected areas by The Trumpet correspondent, showed widespread destruction, with residents assessing damaged properties and calling for urgent intervention by relevant government agencies.
Many residents urged authorities to strengthen enforcement of safety standards for billboards and other outdoor structures, especially during the rainy season, while also calling for improved drainage infrastructure to mitigate flooding.
The latest rainstorm is the second major weather-related incident to hit Asaba in recent times, further highlighting concerns over the city’s preparedness for extreme weather conditions and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to seasonal storms.
