Anxiety in Lagos, Ogun communities over flooding
…Residents send SOS to Jonathan, Fashola, Amosun
By SEYE OJO
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The Ogun River
These days, residents of New Dawn Estate, Magboro, on the Isheri North axis, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed.
Their fears arise from predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Institute (NIMET) that the rainfall for this year would probably surpass the one experienced last year.
The prediction brought back to their memories the bitter experience they had in October 2011 when the Ogun River overflowed its bank.
The overflow led to flooding, which sacked many of the residents of the estate from their homes. But they were not alone in the predicament. The flood also displaced hundreds of residents of many communities along the bank of the river. The flood submerged many houses and companies on the Isheri North axis and Ajegunle, along Ikorodu Road, Lagos State.
The communities have, however, appealed to the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and President Goodluck Jonathan to jointly address the flooding challenge before the rains begin this year. They believe that dredging the river would allow residue water from Ogun State to flow through Kara Cattle Market to the Majidun River in Ikorodu without causing any harm.
Ogun River overflowed its banks after the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority released water from the Oyan Dam in the last quarter of 2011. This led to what experts described as a four-metre rise by the river above its bank.
But that was not the first time the Ogun River overflowed its bank. In October 2010, dozens of communities in Isheri North axis experienced the same thing.
The Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority had explained last year that the overflow of water along the Ogun River, around the flood plain of Isheri, Ketu, Mile 12 and Berger was not as a result of any outflow of water from Oyan Dam. It stated that it was as a result of heavy cumulative effect of rainfall in the Oke Ogun area of Oyo State and some parts of Ogun State whose streams and water run into the Ogun River. Otunba Kunle Adepitan, an international relations expert, is the chairman, Community Development Association (CDA) of New Dawn Estate, Magboro. In an encounter with Daily Sun, he averred that the menace would become a yearly occurrence unless Ogun River is dredged and artificial lakes created.
His words: “The major cause of the flooding, which was about six feet deep, at the estate last year was the overflow of the Ogun River and not the release of water from the Oyan Dam as widely publicised. I must say that the release of water from the dam was a contributory factor. “This problem of flooding should be addressed holistically by the government. The Afribank Estate Company Limited, now Mainstreet Estate Company Limited did a good job but the company and the buyers did not know that there would be a climate change that would lead to an overflow of the Ogun River, which resulted in the submerging of houses, destruction of property and loss of lives in the estate, which has about 400 subscribers. If the area is prone to flooding, the government would not have perfected the land titles.”
He noted that many of the subscribers are afraid to develop their plots of land and those who had developed theirs are afraid of the flood, adding that last year was the first time the community experienced flooding in the past six years.
On what residents would do if the government asks them to relocate, he stated: “The government, I believe will not behave in a military fashion. If they say that, they must provide alternatives for the people, which include alternative accommodation for residents and alternative workplaces for companies that are in that area.”
Adepitan continued: “President Goodluck Jonathan visited Lagos State after the havoc wreaked by the flood last year and he was at the Isheri North, which starts from Berger to Warewa in Ogun State. This area is a primary focus of the Lagos and Ogun states to turn it to a model mega city.“Jonathan made an avowed promise to the effect that the issue of flooding in Isheri North axis would be mitigated against, that he would release money from the Ecological Fund to solve the problem. We were very happy and very expectant. Alas, nothing has been done till date.
“Given the recent prediction by the NIMET that this year’s rains would be heavier than the ones of last year, everybody should brace up. It was predicted that we would have 236 days of rain this year. Going by this, one cannot but be bothered that what we experienced last year in terms of massive destruction of lives and property would not repeat itself this year. “The government should not wait until disaster strikes before proffering solution. We should take proactive steps to address our social and environmental problems.”
Adepitan, however, raised the alarm over the state of the long bridge between Warewa and Ibafo on the axis, which was nearly submerged last year. The bridge, he said, had started shaking.“Before now one would hardly notice a vibration on the bridge but currently the state of the bridge has got so bad that there are fears in certain quarters that the bridge may be swept by flood in the nearest future or worse still collapse if nothing urgent is done. These days the bridge is always flooded at the slightest sign of rain. “The problem we have on our hands now is that some cosmetic palliatives might be deployed. The Lagos and Ogun States, in conjunction with the Federal Government, should create a synergy with the aim of dredging Ogun River and creating some artificial lakes.
“The idea of the artificial lakes was first suggested by the Ogun State government during the regime of former Governor Gbenga Daniel. I think there is an eternal wisdom in the decision because it will mitigate the problem at hand. Apart from containing excess water when flooding is about to arise, it has the economic potential to serve as a fish depot and it will even engage the services of many Nigerians. This is how to effectively mitigate against the perennial flooding,” he noted.
Adepitan, who holds a doctorate in international relations, said he represents the collective interest of resourceful Nigerians who reside on the Isheri North axis. He maintained that the dredging of the river and creation of some artificial lakes would go a long way in solving the recurrent problem of flooding on the axis.
Following the devastating effects of the overflow of the Ogun River, President Goodluck Jonathan paid sympathy visits to Lagos and Ogun states in 2010 and 2011 to assess the degree of devastation of communities in the areas. During one of the visits, he announced the approval of the sum of N2.1 billion as the Federal Government’s assistance to the governments of Lagos, Ogun and Jigawa states to alleviate the sufferings of victims of flood disasters in the three states. The three states were to get N700 million each.
As at October last year, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, confirmed the receipt of the money during a live television programme. He had said: “We were given Ecological Funds which we have not touched. We must go first to the state assembly to get permission.” Millions of Nigerians are now asking what the Ogun and Lagos States used the ecological funds they were given by the Federal Government for.
But for these residents, all they want is that the Ogun River should be dredged and some artificial lakes created to curtail the perennial overflow of the river.
