Kunle Adelabu
-As affected residents lament, count losses
The Lagos State Government has assured residents of Ikorodu division of efforts to address the issue of floods that ravaged several parts of the division on Monday.
Several areas in Ikorodu Local Government, Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA), and Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA among others, were affected by the floods.
The state government gave the assurance during the week when a high – powered delegation led by the representative of Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), visited affected areas, especially in Ijede and Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDAs, during which the Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Motuntayo Gbadebo -Alogba, also urged residents in her council, to be calm.
The inspection tour covered several critical locations including uncompleted Onefold earthfall channel affecting Ewu Owa, Ominira, United Hearts, and Unity Estate Phase 1 in Ijede LCDA; Garden of Peace CDA at Ire Akari bus stop in Gberigbe where the Arab Contractor water collector caused severe damage, and Oko Ope community in Ijede LCDA, which was completely submerged by flood waters.
The team also visited BAGIDAN/SHONLE/MAGBON axis where residents endured hours of flooding overnight from Sunday to Monday, and Akin Ogunlewe area in Igbogbo.
Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun, who had earlier facilitated the construction of a major drainage system from Ewu Owa to Oko-Ope and down to Abule Eko, noted that the ongoing work would have significantly reduced the flood’s impact if it had been completed in time.
He expressed confidence in the capacity of Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu, to mobilize all relevant ministries to ensure a lasting solution.
“We trust the Governor’s responsiveness and ability to annex all necessary ministries to bring about permanent relief for our people”, Hon. Abiodun stated.
Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter – Governmental Relations, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde, said that the government is commitment to protecting lives and property.
“We are going to do whatever that is needed to be done.
“We are going to do that as a government because we are responsible for the safety of all Lagosians he said.
Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, while stating that there has been deliberate efforts from the government to address the flooding challenges, also agreed that what residents experienced with the last flash flood called for concern.
He, however, assured that everything has been done to permanently resolve the issue in the next six months.
“What we are doing is to capture the water from the source and ensure that in the next six months or thereabout, we should solve it.
“We are trying to solve the drainage issues. We want to make sure that we resolve that and move to the next stage.
“In terms of work, you can see that the contractor is on site and we have asked him to ensure that people are working on the downstream and the mainstream”, he said.
Hon. Motunrayo Alogba, Executive Chairman of Ijede LCDA, commended the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his swift intervention, describing it as cooperation between the two tiers of government.
She also thanked the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency II.
She highlighted efforts of her administration at addressing the problems by cleaning blocked drains.
“We will just tell our people to be calm and be patient with us, because the Governor is with us on this. We are sure that the ongoing drainage will continue and be completed soon”.
Meanwhile, residents of…in Ijede LCDA, lamented the impacts of the heavy rainfall that caused their areas and houses to be flooded.
It was gathered that many houses were flooded to the window level and those affected had to take refuge on their ceilings till they got help in the morning.
Properties worth several millions were destroyed during the unfortunate incident with many vehicles also submerged.
Mrs Oluwatosin Fatimot, Chairman, New Generation CDA, Oke-Eletu, speaking with THE IMPACT, lamented their losses.
“The rain has destroyed many properties because it flooded our homes to the extent that we have to call the firefighters to assist us in bringing some people out of their homes. This is because they were trapped and couldn’t come outside.
“The level of the water inside and that of the one outside was terrible. Firefighters had to enter ceilings where they were hiding to bring people out.
“Others had to carry one another in other to escape the water.
“By morning when we started counting losses, those who sell food items like bags of garri, rice, beans and other commodities lost everything.
“There’s a particular man whose house fence collapsed on his jeep, while many other cars were flooded, but we thank God that no life was lost. Even at that, I am not sure the people can recover from the loss that the rain caused”, she said while narrating the residents’ experiences.
The CDA Chairman pleaded with the government to find a permanent solution to the challenges being posed by floods in the area.
She attributed the incident to the slow work of the construction of the drainage in the area.
“We want to use this opportunity to appeal to the government that we need their help concerning this water, because I am not sure some people can recover from what happened. It damaged so many things.
“The drainage system is being constructed but it’s very slow and they are not putting in enough effort.
“Secondly, people are also saying that it’s because of the construction going on at Gberigbe road and the blockade of the water channel at 1 fold and the water coming from the 1 fold that is entering our community. We don’t know what to believe but, water from the area does flow into our area but we were surprised at the volume of water that flooded our community”, she said.
Speaking during the state government delegation’s visit, Mrs Thomas, who stated that the ongoing construction of drainage system was facilitated by Hon. Aro to address the flow of water into their community, also thanked the representative and the state government for the visit to assess the level of damage.
She also thanked the firefighters for their prompt intervention and assistance rendered.
Many of the residents have also appealed to the state and the local governments that aside from the construction of the drainage system, the government should also assist them in mitigating their losses.
