LAGOS – Residents of Onikoyi Community in Ibah Local Council Development Area of Lagos, on Monday sought for government’s assistance in curbing menace of flood ravaging the area.
Mr Wasiu Gbajabiamila, the Chairman of the Community’s Development Association, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the latest flooding had wrecked serious havoc in the community.
“Before now, we don’t experience flooding in this community. But shortly after the construction of the Obadore Bridge on Iba/Igando express road, we started having flood.
“We were informed that the main source of this water is from the Ogun dam.
“We want the state government to come to our aid.
“We have written to the State Ministry of Environment but they are yet to respond,” Gbajabiamila said.
Also speaking, Mr Emeka Amaraegbu, the Chairman, Ikoyi Estate Community Development Area, in the same community, said that many of the residents have been displaced.
According to him, the flood had destroyed many properties.
“This flooding issue has become a nightmare to our community; we had lot of casualties in 2012.
“We wrote to both the state and local government but nothing was done.
“The Landlord Association had raised N10 million to construct drainage so water can flow freely.
“After this, we experienced relief in 2013 but now the flood is back, displacing residents,” Amaraegbu told NAN.
He appealed to the State Government to come to the aid of the community to remedy the situation.
Mr Akanni Bamigbose, the Baale (Village head) of Ikoyi Community also appealed to the state government to assist by constructing adequate drainage system to divert the water from the community.
He told NAN that the community association had cleared the drains several times but financial constraint was hampering continuation of the clearing effort.
“The local government is aware of this situation but we are yet to hear from them.
“Many buildings have been submerged in the flood, thereby displacing people,” the Bamigbose said.
One of the residents, Mr Emma Obuelodi, told NAN that the flood had been a major challenge to the entire community.
“I have lived in this community for over 20 years, and the flood has been the greatest challenge that we are facing.
“We want the Lagos State Government to come to our aid, we are Lagosians, we pay our tenement rate and taxes under Iba Local Government here,” he said. (NAN)
