27th July, 2011
In order to prevent flood, residents of Egbetedo/Panada community in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, have cleared the drainage in the area.
The initiative, it was gathered, was at the instance of one of the residents, Engr. Olakunle Mumuni, the Asiwaju of Egbatedo/Panada,
The drainage, which channelled water to the blocked Elere collector, was an eyesore as it was filled with of ‘pure water’ sachets and bottles as well as other particles that have been sedentary to the free flow of water.
Mumuni, who doubles as the chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA), said he always felt bad any time it rains as people’s homes in community were often taken over by flood simply because the drainage was not cleared.
“I take the clearing of the canal upon myself because we cannot continue to wait for government to do everything for us if we want to progress. Also, I always feel bad any time it rains as the people’s homes were being taken over by flood.
“So I decided to take it upon myself as the CDA chairman and a stakeholder in the community, to effect clearance of the drainage,†Mumuni explained.
He stated that about N100,000 was spent to clear the drainage for easy passage of water to the Elere collector.
He, however, berated successive chairmen of the local government for turning deaf ear to the plight of the people in the community, while noting that demolition of buildings is not the answer to the flood problem and urged government to complete clearing of the Elere collector.
He also advised the residents of the community to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainages and canals to avoid flooding of the area.
—Paul Sanusi