By Motolani AbdulGafar
Residents of Ejigbo have appealed to the Lagos State Government to help find a lasting solution to the flood which has become a menace to the community.
According to them, they have continued to lose valuable properties since the commencement of heavy downpour this year.
Speaking to ECHONEWS, the chairman of Olive Estate Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Clement Ojo, complained that the destructive flood is caused as a result of blocked drains and canals across the local council area.
He claimed that his community is worst hit by the flood, noting that the community is always consumed by flood anytime it rains.
Ojo stated that the flood extends into the rooms and inner chambers of many apartments in the estate.
“I must be honest with you, since I have been living in this estate, I have never experienced such destructive flood as this year. What we normally experienced is flooded roads and gutters but this time, our rooms were completely flooded. We couldn’t evacuate the water because everywhere is flooded to our doorsteps. We lost important documents, certificates and other valuables in my house; we all felt helpless because we couldn’t control the flood.
“We’ve observed that the excessive flood is as a result of the canal blockage at that bridge that links Jakande and Okota together. For two years now, the canal has not been desilted by the state government as it normally does routinely every year.
“We hope, if the usual monthly sanitation could be restored, we are likely going to experience the normal flood. Nevertheless, we are appealing to the government to help us with drainage within the estate to reduce the pressure of heavy downpour.”
Also speaking, the chairman of Taiwo Afolabi Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Olajide Makinde, disclosed that although the local council under the chairmanship of Hon. Monsurudeen Bello (Obe) and the previous administration had earlier intervened in the reconstruction of roads in the community, he noted that the persistent heavy downpour this year has destroyed some of the tarred roads.
He also appealed to the state government for urgent intervention to prevent the loss of lives to flood.
