Résidents laud dredged canal, warned against dumping waste

 

By Olushola Okewole

The residents of Bucknor area of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have thanked the Sanwo-olu administration for dredging the Oke-Afa canal even as they received warning to stop dumping waste in it,

Before the dredging of the canal, the community and other neighbouring communities have been witnessing persistent flooding due to the blockage of the canal.

In an effort to ease the community of the annual challenge, the Lagos State Government seven weeks ago sent its officials to dredge the canal for free flow of flood especially during the rainy season.

Commending the government for the intervention, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Fasheun Area Commander, Mr. Ismail Salaudeen (aka Boss), said the just concluded dredging was the best so far by the government, noting that it has never been dredged this way.

Salaudeen, who leads the toll collectors on the bridge, said the tolls realised from the bridge users during the lockdown reduced to about 20 per cent of the value before the lockdown as vehicular and pedestrian movement were restricted.

He added that though the tolls were not reduced, some passersby were allowed to pass free.

He therefore urged the residents to desist from dumping refuse into the canal when it rains in order not to block it again.

Also commending the government on the project, the chairman of Coalition of Bucknor CDAs, Mr. Toyin Saka, said the dredging of the canal has been the priority of the community as six CDAs were always affected by flooding from the canal causing damage to properties.

He said the dredging was a big relief to the community as he commended the state government for the timely intervention and the engineers for doing a good job.

He noted that the local government tried its best last year but the project was beyond the council.

“The state government’s intervention is really a great benefit to the communities affected as individual community will only have to channel their drainage into the canal and free their communities from flood,” he stated.

He also urged people to ensure proper disposal of their waste, noting that plastic bottles and nylon were the main refuse packed out of the canal.

Meanwhile, one of the officials of Stone Works Nigeria Ltd, the company that dredged the canal, Engr. Mustapha Nojeem, warned the residents against dumping refuse in the canal, urging them to change their behaviour about indiscriminate dumping of refuse to avoid flood in the future.

He said regular dumping of refuse contributed to the blockage of the canal as he advised the community leaders to enlighten their people on the danger of dumping refuse into the canal leading to another uncontrollable flood in the communities.

He said the project which lasted for over seven weeks has been a perfect job starting from Airport road to Amuwo-Odofin.