Ajah community battles Lagos over construction of canal

Residents of Ilaje community in the Ajah area of Lagos have kicked against the construction of a canal along a road leading to the community.

The residents, who appealed to the Lagos State Government to consider another route for the project, said the canal posed health and environment risks to the community.

Some of them, who spoke with PUNCH Metro, alleged that their houses were demolished without prior notices from the government, adding that many children sustained injuries after falling into the ditch dug for the water channel.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the residents protested against the construction work last week to stop workers from continuing with the project. It was learnt that many women came out naked to express their grievances.

“We learnt that the engineers would resume work on the project on October 8. They have vowed to use force to build the canal. We will not allow it because this is not the appropriate route; this road is the only route to this community,” a resident, Mrs Olatuga Seyi, told PUNCH Metro.

A trader in the community, who identified herself as Esther Ojitiwon, said there had been tension in the area since the project began earlier in the year. She said they staged a protest against it because all other avenues to get their interests protected had failed.

She said, “We are not against any project that will bring development. But this canal is going to put this community in a lot of trouble.”

One of the community leaders, Mr. Oluwole Adejimi, said the community had written letters of appeal to the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Justice, adding that these had not yielded the desired result. He alleged that the police had been threatening the community leaders and making illegal arrest.

He said, “The location of the canal is inappropriate; it is the only route to Ilaje community. The canal is big and it could cause cholera outbreak in the area. We learnt that when the canal is finally built, it will not be covered. This is a problem for our community. We call on Governor Babatunde Fashola to please save our soul.”

Another resident in the area, Bolaji Eniola, urged the government to set up a committee to find another route for the canal.

He said, “The governor promised that his administration would look for an alternative route for the canal. We were surprised to see men of the task force demolishing structures to start work. This is unfair.”

Another community leader, Mr. Japhet Mekuleyi, said, “The government should consider the fact that we will be the victim of the hazard that this canal will bring into our community.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, however, said the police neither arrested nor threatened anybody in the community.

He said, “The people are the ones threatening to stop the canal project. The police position is that they should allow the contractors to go ahead with the project since it is meant to benefit the community. We are advising them not to take the laws into their hands.”

The Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the canal was initiated to curb incessant flooding in the area.

Bello said, “The project is in the interest of the community to contain excess water in the neighbourhood .

“The residents had been given notice to quit the natural alignment where the water pass through. Those houses were demolished because they were on drainage alignment. The best thing for them to do is to meet us to sort it out.”