The perennial flooding in Lagos State may never have an end if agencies persist in flouting on enforcing all approved layout plans for streets and constructions as most of the floods usually witnessed are occasioned by this act of negligence or be traced perhaps to personal aggrandizements of officials of some of the agencies, hence in correcting this menace there is therefore the for a holistic review of strategy in operations with the objective of tracing and meting due sanctions on errant official while in service or not; to minimizing these colossal damages occasioned by their collaborations with owners.
For residents of Akin Adebowale Street in Igando-Ikotun LCDA, Alimosho LGA who have suffered for over a decade for such ill-fated collaborations as their street has perpetually submerged by flood at any slightest drops of rain owing to wrong approval of construction or an act of carelessness of officials of agencies under Lagos state ministry of environment.
During The Alimosho Mail tour of the street by our correspondent following an invite for a first hand assessment of the situation as led by community leaders that narrated their ordeal dated back since 2008. According to them; prior to the construction of a church within their community; Akin Adebowale was a street with thoroughfare from its both ends however that changed afterwards the construction of the said religious building commenced.
They noted that while the construction was on-going efforts were made by the community to get authorities concerned to wade into the matter and save its residents from their foreseen nightmares but all fell on deaf ears. Dr J.J. Akinlade who serves at the Patron of the Landlords Association told our correspondent that letters were written to Alausa and the state engineer in Alimosho LGA then was mandated to inspect and revert; the inspection was conducted with some of the buildings marked for demolition but that was the last heard on the matter; as he handed copies of the letters to our correspondent.
Today, aside from turning the street into a close, residents of the street have been subjected to an untold hardship as their home are constantly flooded at any drop of rain while some are left with the option to seek for alternative abode pending the dislodging of the flood that often last for days as their homes will be un-assessable. Yet they have remained resolute in pursuing their course with the understanding that such powers to correct such anomalies rest solely on government and its agencies.
Our effort to get words from the alleged culprit was not fruitful as the church was under lock and key obviously in compliance of the Covid-19 directives while a telephone line assigned to it via our internet search remained switched off as we tried repeatedly.
Our efforts in getting words from relevant agencies are ongoing to ascertain the true position of the matter through the copies of letters obtained from residents while we appeal to all relevant authorities to urgently assess the situation toward finding a lasting solution thereby saving lives and properties.
