What started as a mere threat early
March,2013 has snowballed into a full scale action as the Lagos state through
its Ministry of Environment has
commenced the construction of a canal to help combat the devastating effect
of flooding/ erosion along the Old Ojo road in Amuwo Odofin Council area.
Anxiety, agony and tears rented the air in the affected area following the demolition of illegal structures adjacent the canal. It was gathered that properties worth millions of Naira have been destroyed to pave way for the canal.
The exercise which began from the
Alakija area, near the Navy Town is expected to extend to Maza Maza.
An interview with some of the affected landlords/ tenants revealed that a notice from the ministry of Environment was issued to the affected landlord urging them to evacuate their buildings as the Lagos State Government proposed to site a canal in the area.
While some of the landlords claimed they have certificate of ownership and as such ready to challenge the state Government , others assumed that the notice was a mere threat until a bull-dozier was seen pulling down buildings within the area.
In a related development, some of the affected
landlords who would not want their name in print revealed that due process was
not adhered to in the demolition exercise
as the fingered the contractor, alleging that he ( contractor) extorted
money from landlords in the area in order to spare their building.
It was disclosed that over #500,000 was demanded from owners of duplex while owners of bungalow were made to pay #250,000.
It was also revealed disclosed that
some naval officers stormed the scene and beat up the bull-dozier operator for
allegedly narrowing the canal towards the power line so as to spare some buildings. He was made to do what is expected
of him. As press time, effort to reach the contractor yielded no fruition as he
was said to have traveled out of town.
