*FG denied us ecological funds, says Fashola

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, directed the immediate relocation of 681 people residing in the flooded area of Ajegunle in Ikorodu occasioned by the release of water from the Ogun-Osun River basin to tributaries.

Fashola assured the displaced residents that the situation was already receiving due attention, adding that a temporary relief camp had been prepared to accommodate them pending when the state government would re-allocate new land to property owners.

Ajegunle Ikorodu flood

About 1,000 residents have already being displaced since the occurrence of the disaster in the last two weeks which has already posed epidemic threat to the area and its environ.

Fashola handed out the directive to relevant state authorities during an inspection tour of the flooded area.

He, however, blamed the Federal Government, particularly the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, for negligence and lack of response to earlier notifications by the state government on the need to support the state government through the Ecological Fund intervention to avert the impending danger.

Meanwhile, NEMA has provided relief materials for the victims to cushion the effect of the flood.

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While sympathising with the victims, Fashola who led other executive members to the scene, implored them to be patient and not panic in any way so as not to aggravate the situation, adding that the area was a disaster zone of no small means.

Fashola speaks
He said: “NEMA bringing relief materials here is immaterial because we applied for ecological funds from the Federal Government since the last three years which was not given to us.

“We have raised this issue with the Federal Government to grant us ecological funds to deal with this matter decisively. With that we would have averted this problem. But that is behind us.

“We appeal to residents of this area to cooperate with the state government. There is high water body in the lagoon here. It has been raining all over the world and there is no place for this water to flow to, so this is nature at work.

Another affected area at Ajegunle

“Experts have advised us to wait for this water to subside as nature would take its course. But what we can do is to work together to mitigate the consequences. One of what we are going to do is that we have enumerated about 681 people that have been displaced here and we have built a relief camp in anticipation of this kind of disaster.

“We would move them immediately today (yesterday). The Commissioners for Special Duties, Health and Environment, General Manager Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASDEMA, will move those families and relocate them.

“The truth is that this is not a problem that the government alone can deal with. We need everybody. The emergency toll lines of 767 and 112 are still functional. More emergency help lines would be established, helicopters surveillance would be deployed.”

Commissioner, NEMA make promises

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Muiz Banire, also assured that everything was being done to put the situation under control adding that the water has affected the road: “and we are doing everything possible to abate it.”

Speaking earlier, Coordinator of NEMA, South-West, Alhaji Muhammed Bida, who was also at the site, said all relief materials had been brought to the affected people.

“NEMA will do everything possible to put up request to the presidency for necessary intervention,” he promised.