By Monsur  Olowoopejo

AS Lagos State Government continues the massive reconstruction of drainage channels across the state, aimed at reducing incidents of flooding, residents of Agbado-Oke-odo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, have appealed to Governor Babatunde Fashola, to save them from impending danger being posed by a damaged link bridge in the community.

They urged Fashola to treat the call with the urgency it deserves by giving approval for the reconstruction of the damaged footbridge at the Odo-Pako end of the Ilo River, that serves as major link to other communities in the area.

The residents especially called the attention of the governor to the fact that something concrete must be done quickly because the lives of their children who have just resumed for another academic term are particularly in danger, as the bridge is considered unsafe and could collapse even at the slightest effect of flood. Apart from the precarious bridge, the residents urged government to consider the reconstruction of dilapidated roads and drainage channels in the council.

Damaged footbridge at Odo-Pako

Increased rainfall

The appeal came on the heels of increased rainfall in the state which the residents claimed had wrecked havoc in various parts of the council. They claimed that heavy flooding has continued to threaten their lives and property in the areas, leaving many houses deserted.

When Vanguard visited the Odo-Pako in Isale Odo Community, a border community between Lagos and Ogun State, the portion of the bridge falls within Lagos State, hence serving as a link road between Lagos and Ogun states.

It was further learnt that the only foot bridge available for the residents to link the neighbouring communities is a makeshift plank bridge that had collapsed on several occasions due to the heavy flow of water which they claimed, unfortunately, led to loss of lives during heavy downpour in the past. Our correspondent gathered that whenever it rains, movement in and out of the community would be suspended till the water level subsides, as only a fraction of the residents work in Ogun State.

Chairman of Isale-Odo Community Development Association, CDA, Mr. Moshood Oyelade, explained that two persons had died while trying to cross through the plank foot bridge recently. Oyelade said; “I remember the last man who died at this portion was an Okada rider whose Okada slipped into the river. Before help could come his way, he had already given up the ghost.” He added, “the river flows from the toll gate end of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway to other parts of Lagos State.

Canal threat: Alhaji Kamorudeen Bamidele, Chairman Committee on canal dredging of Alabede Aboru residents, said the dredging of Aboru canal had been abandoned by the contractor handling the project, thereby worsening flooding problem in the area.

To complement the state government efforts, Bamidele said residents have raised N3, million to support the dredging of confluence paths simultaneously from community entry points at Abeokuta expressway. He said, “the initial dredging which took place when the project took off in February 2012 has been stunted by the resultant blockage as a result of gradual sand deposit which eventually decreased the depth between the bed and bank along the canal path thereby worsening the flooding bank flow”.

He appealed to the governor to hasten the re-dredging and concrete lining of the canal to save the communities from the perennial problem of flooding.