By Bose Adelaja

Those who are familiar with Arigbanla community in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State would have noticed recent remarkable changes in this densely populated area. Unlike what obtained in the past, the community now wears a new look after the removal of illegal structures which have been instrumental to constant flooding during the rainy season.

The community was prone to the disaster due to the fact that the natural flood-channel had been completely blocked by illegal buildings and structures. Also, many buildings were erected right at the edge of the water channel while some notable companies even constructed their fence-walls across the water channel itself. In addition, the set-back of the canal had been converted to various uses by auto technicians, religious groups, markets and others.

A resident, Arobieke Adebare told Vanguard Metro, VM, he lost all his belongings to the July 10 disaster. ‘’My only car has been satisfied ‘dead’, while other belongings, including my certificates have been swept away by flood; I have been squatting since then. The force of the flood reminded me of the Tsunami in Indonesia and right within me I knew there was going to be some casualties, and indeed people died,’’ he said.

The good news is that respite has come the way of residents after the Lagos State government commenced the demolition of illegal structures in the area. Instructively occupants of the affected structures had no reason to complain.

Soon after the structures were pulled down, some officials of Sparta Contractors moved a bulldozer to the site and commenced immediate construction of Arigbanla Canal.

Remarkably the demolition exercise had the support of members of the Community Development Association, CDA, led by Elder Emmanuel Alegbe as they came out to support the move by Governor Babatunde Fashola to reconstruct the 1.5 kilometres canal.

Some of the residents who spoke with VM said that alarmed by the looming disaster in the area, some law makers from the National Assembly led by the representative of Agege Federal Constituency, Babatunde Adejare, visited Arigbanla Community as well as other places affected by flood in the state.

Speaking with VM, the CDA Chairman, Elder Alegbe confirmed that over 5000 smaller drainages were diverted into the canal which worsened the situation in the area. Alegbe said the situation gave rise to the frequent flooding. “The flood is usually serious any time it rains with many lives lost in the community. If the July 10 flood had happened on a working day maybe we would be talking of many more deaths,” he noted.

He said he was confident Sparta Contractors will do a good job going by its past achievement

Meanwhile the Managing Director, Sparta Contractors, Mr Femi Oshoniyi has said his company has commenced the dredging and clearing of the canal, which started from Oke-Afa Agage and will terminate at the one along the Abeokuta expressway, a distance of 1.5 kilometres. He noted that the company is looking critically at the design of the canal so as to save many structures that would have been demolished.

“Part of what we are putting into consideration is to save some buildings, though some would have to go. We are not just carrying out government order but at the same time collaborating with the people whom we intend to get their support to execute the job.

“That was the method we adopted in Gbagada during the construction of the Atunrase-Gbagada Canal,” he informed.

He added that the company has solicited support of push-cart operators, auto technicians and the CDA members, “whom we intend to entrust with the responsibility of monitoring the area so that people will no longer dump refuse indiscriminately. We are also going to enter into agreement with them for a specific period to monitor the canal after the construction’’.