Residents of Agbado-Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have appealed to the government to fix the Akinola canal.
The Nation learnt that people have died in the canal and valuables worth millions of naira lost.
The canal, which links over 10 communities, including Jankara, Ijaiye and Obade, has expanded due to heavy rain.
A resident said the expansion began about eight years ago after the express drainage system was damaged by heavy flow of water.
It was gathered that the contract for the canal, which is not more than 5km, was awarded in 2010 by the government, but construction was abandoned.
Fourteen communities under the Joint Community Development Association (JCDA), in the affected areas, said the abandonment was causing residents pains.
The JCDA leader, Mr. Martins Ajayi, said: “The project was awarded to a contractor, who started it at Ekoro and abandoned it at Kehinde Anifowose, which is about one-and-a-half kilometres. We met the Ministry of the Environment on the issue, but nothing has been done. The council chairman promised to work on it, but nothing has been done since then.”
A resident of Ifedapo community, Adepetun Ebenezer, said some people had drowned in the canal.
“Many people have died in this canal. Recently, a young boy tried to cross the bridge, but fell into the canal and died. A motorcyclist also fell into the canal. His body has not been found. Bodies were found beside the canal,” he said.
The Vice Chairman of Ifedapo CDA, who simply identified himself as Alhaji Adeoye, said residents paid taxes, “hence do not deserve this ill treatment.”
“We pay our taxes as when due. We pay land use charge regularly even when the bills are outrageous. The government has to do something about the canal in time, to prevent further damages,” he said.
Bajomo CDA Treasurer Jide Ogunleye said: “We appeal to the government to help us construct this canal, which is eating up our land and destroying our buildings.
“We have written to the government many times. Our petition is at the Ministry of the Environment (MOE).”