By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
In spite serious warning, a Lagos businessman has erected a mansion on the canal of Ojo- Igbede, hightening fears of massive flooding, as the rains beacon. Would Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu save the masses from the impending danger? Our correspondent writes.
The Igbede canal in Ojo Federal Constituency of Lagos is as old as the town itself. It has served for years long, a path where fishermen carry out their fishing escapade, smiling home most times with big catches. The canal, which runs behind Jinadu area, off Abayomi Giwa Street, Ajangbadi, also leads to the major Ojo Lagoon that connects Tincan Island and Badagry through the waterways.
In spite the serious warning by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) against the erection of structures close to edge of canal and frantic efforts of the Lagos State Government at addressing and finding lasting solutions to persistent flooding in the state, some unscrupulous persons have continued to do otherwise, not minding its consequence to the larger society.
The residents of Jinadu area have begun to live in palpable fear of the impending danger that may befall them when the rains start soon as a result of the ongoing construction of a massive building right on the edge of the canal.
Their anxiety is occasioned by the erection of a large building on the right of way of the Igbede canal, that may lead to the area being submerged in flood.
As at the last visit, the canal path has been narrowed down to almost 80 per cent of its width, thereby, infuriating the fear of a possible disaster during the oncoming rainy seasoning.
Their fear is further heightened by the annual flood that is coming from the Northern part of Africa, that has entered the country and has ravaged most cities in the Northern part, particularly in Borno State.
To compound it, there’s going to be tidal loss of water from the Atlantic Ocean and the water released from Oyan Dam will slightly increase as from the month of October as expected.
From findings, neither the Ojo Local Government Council nor the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has taken any step to halt the malady that may jeopardise the lives of the residents as a result of the structure when completed.
To worsen the situation, the residents are not bold enough to speak out, apprehensive of the backlash of reporting the matter to the concerned authorities.
Requests by our correspondent for the contact of the owner of the structure was not obliged by the residents who were even afraid to make any comment during our several visits.
Mostly, they’re of the believe that the erection of the structure has the backings of some government officials.
One of the residents who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the owner of the structure had boasted severally that nobody can stop the project.
He added that the businessman also hinted that he bought the space from “omo onile”, adding that the place doesn’t fall within the set back of the canal.
When contacted over the development, the Head of Information Unit of Ojo- Local Government Council, Mr. Leke Odunfa declined comment, saying it was the Supervisory Councillor on Environment of the Council that can comment on such issue.
Odunfa however, promised to link our correspondent up with the Supervisory Councillor, a promise he didn’t honour, with excuses that the man is always busy or not in the office.
However, the Director Press and Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Kunle Adeshina in an interview with our correspondent, gave the position of the state government on such issue.
Adeshina reiterated the state government’s stands on zero tolerance for erection of structures on edges or setback of canals and drainages.
He however, emphasised that government serves contravention notices, which will be followed with the appropriate action after expiration, though with consideration to avoid much collateral damages to the owners.
“Government don’t just demolish people’s structure just like that. They will serve contravention notices and upon expiration, some other notices are served. If the encroachment will constitute major danger to residents, government will have no choice but to pull them down. We’ve done that in several areas like in Ikota, Lekki. Even right now, at System 1, Odo Iya-Alaro, Maryland, they’re demolishing structures built on drainage set back and canals, it’s a zero tolerance.
“So if they have not reached a particular area, it’s because we mix both punitive and moral situation together because if you say at every point in time you demolish, it is the same set of people that will call the government all sort of negative names. But it has always been clear and we’ve never minced words about it, there’s zero tolerance for it because if you build on drainage setback, it doesn’t allow the water to have its natural course and when that happens, the water seeks for alternative route and that’s what causes flooding of homes, damage to property and possible loss of lives.”
On claims that government focuses on the highbrow areas to the neglect of the rural communities, Adeshina dismissed the claim, saying that government has to be systemic in handling of the projects.
He added that areas like Ikotun, Isolo and low density places have equally being touched in ensuring that right of ways of drainages are not impeded.
” Like I have told you, if a particular area has not been reached, it will be reached. If you have 20 locations with such infractions, you don’t expect us to demolish all at once in a month, no we don’t do that. We will give them warning and ample time. For some, we try and see how we can mitigate, we don’t do outright demolition, we try to see how we don’t cause too much collateral damages to the residents too.
While reacting to possibility of cover up by owners of such structures and some unscrupulous government officials for self gain, Adeshina disclosed that each of the 20 local government councils and the 37 local council development areas have resident engineers that monitor the channels, adding that all the channels are captured.
His words, ” There are 20 local government councils and 37 LCDAs in the state, and each of them has resident engineers. We know all our channels because they’re captured in the state master plan, except it’s not a state drainage channel. Some of the resident engineers don’t have physical offices in the local government council secretariat because of lack of space, but they are assigned to work in the areas on monthly basis and bring back report to the headquarters.”
The question on the lips of the residents is that, “would Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu rise up to defend the Constitution he swore to, that he will protect the citizens of the state?”
This’s the time for the governor to live up to expectations and save the masses from the oppression of the bourgeois who believe the poor exist at their mercy.
