18th October, 2010
The Federal Government appears set to give the Lagos State government the long awaited Ecological Fund to tackle the flood disaster that hit the state recently and to solve other emergencies as it has sent its team to assess the extent of havoc wreaked on the state by the flood.
Directors from the Federal Ministry of the Environment and the Ecological Department toured the scene of the flood yesterday alongside officials of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, led by the Commissioner, Dr. Muiz Banire and the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Tola Kasali.
The Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund, represented by one of the agency’s directors, Mrs. Rose Maranzu assured the state government that the Federal Government would surely intervene in the matter by releasing the ecological fund to enable the state to tackle the flood disaster.
“We are here with our consultants and directors to assess the level of damage and then process the approval,†she stated.
Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of the Environment, Engr. Yaya Bawuro, also assured that the Federal Government would surely intervene in the matter and make the needed funds available to tackle disasters in Lagos State.
“Immediately the president heard about it, he directed the Federal Ministry of the Environment to swing into action and expressed his sympathy; we have seen what happened and with what we have seen, it is a very serious problem.
“The people should bear with us.  We are going to approach the problem with wholesome solution,†he assured, adding that with the team from the ecological unit embarking on the tour, the needed fund would soon be released.
Commissioner for the Environment, Banire said the problem of the flood emanated from the Oyan Dam where water was released by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
“We have some options we are looking at and it will involve money. We need the Federal Government’s intervention. Engineering solution is needed to solve the problem,†he said, adding that the government would soon commence auditing of the affected buildings to ascertain their durability.
Banire stated that government would be doing so in order to safeguard the lives of the people, while he appealed to residents of the communities abutting the Ogun River to vacate the area.
“We will be engaging them in dialogue to let them understand why they have to relocate. We are in a democratic system and we cannot force them to leave. We are not just asking them to leave but making plans to resettle them,†he added.
Also visiting the area, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dayo Bush-Alebiosu supported the decision of the Lagos State Government to evacuate the victims of the flood disaster.
According to him, the decision to move the victims from the flood ravaged areas to relief camps was aimed at ameliorating their plight until the situation improved.
The lawmaker said the issue of the perennial flooding, which had continually wreaked havoc on the property and well being of the people of his Federal Constituency, had been brought to the attention of the National Assembly and expressed optimism that the solution to the perennial flooding of the area was in sight.
Bush-Alebiosu who also sympathised with those rendered homeless by the flood noted that as soon as the rain stopped and the dry season comes around, a final solution to the environmental challenge would be provided as the suffering of the victims is unimaginable.
—By Kazeem Ugbodaga
