The Nation Newspaper

Tag: communities

  • Communities to Ambode: save us from extinction

    Communities to Ambode: save us from extinction

    Residents of Alaramimo, Aranse Olu, Azeez Olaose-bikan and Orelope Communities, all in Orile-Agege, have appealed to the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to save them from extinction.

    They said the communities with a population of about 350,000 people are threatened by extinction. The problem centres around an abandoned canal, which now encourages heavy flooding.  It all started nine years ago.

    Presidents of Alaramimo Community Development Association (CDA), Mr David Adesanya and Soretire and Environs Community Development Association (CDA) Alhaji Lateef Ejalonibu  are pleading with the governor to address their plight before this year’s rain begins.

    Leading other dejected and angry residents as they took The Nation round the communities, both leaders said the abandoned portion of the canal between Alaramimo and Azeez Olaosebikan streets have become a threat to lives and property in the area. They said many property owners who could no longer cope with the suffering sold their properties.

    According to Adesanya, the happiness that signaled the commencement of the project turned sour when it was abandoned.

    He noted that since the canal cleaning, de-silting and concrete lining project were abandoned in 2008, the people have been exposed to all manners of deprivations, including untold health hazards, as they became receptors of all the wastes coming from abattoir and its environs.

    “Besides the health hazards which many of our residents have become innocent casualties of, to which they have had to bear the consequences alone, the people have also been denied basic life supporting infrastructures. The roads have gone from bad to worse, and life is becoming increasing unbearable for us all,” Adesanya sadly observed.

    He noted that residents have not been keeping quiet about the matter. According to him, though they had written several petitions to the former governor since 2012, to show their resilience, they had in a letter to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode dated June 16, last year, intimated the governor of the need for his urgent intervention on the issue.

    “Sir, as at July 2012, we have written several letters on the abandoned roads in our CDA to the governor and other relevant arms of the government then, to assist in making our roads motorable for the past 8 years when it has been neglected. As it was then, so it is today,” the letter to Ambode, a copy of which was given to The Nation had stated.

    Streets that are badly affected by the ravaging effect of the neglected canal are Alaramimo, Olaleye, Adeniji, and Aranse Olu. He noted that the contractor handling the project from Abattoir stopped work at Alaramimo Street, abandoned Alaramimo and Azeez Olaosebikan, and continued the concrete lining project upstream.

    “The effect of this abandonment has been borne in silence by our residents who cannot come in or go out any time it rains. The flood that overruns this abandoned canal had drowned no fewer than 10 people since 2008, the last being that of a carpenter who was swept away by the flood at Alaramimo.”

    He went on: “The sad thing is that a blinding of the canal floor, a distance of up to 50 metes had been done before it was abandoned. The concrete floor has today been rendered useless as the entire area have been overgrown with bush.”

    His colleague, Alhaji Ejalonibu, said despite repeated appeals that haveseen residents inviting Hon. Yinka Ogundimu, its representative at the House of Assembly, the Commissioner for the Environment Hon. Samuel Adejare and Hon Taofeek Adaranijo with the hope that those may help influence the government over the carnage of the abandoned project, nothing has been done.

    Ejalonibu said the neglected canal is also badly affecting the world class Soretire Primary Health Care Centre, which despite government’s huge commitment continued to suffer poor patronage as a result of poor road network.

    Evangelist James Amosu appealed to the government to save the people of the area.

    Amosu, who is over 70, said he and other aging residents have resigned to fate, pleading with the governor to look at the area with some kindness and assist the people.

    Secretary, Soretire and Environs CDA Kayode Alatise said the governor should look kindly at Alaramimo and environs and help the people live a more dignified life.

    Alabi Adewunmi, a resident of Alaramimo Street, said the canal has made motoring a thing of the past in the area. According to him, Upper Alaramimo, which leads to Oko-Oba,  had become impassable as motorists could no longer link lower Soretire to Abule Egba.

    “Residents of this area want Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to bring meaningful governance to their doorstep by addressing the neglected canal that has become a major blot in the lives of the people. A project meant to improve the lives of the people, prevent flooding and improve easy flow of waste water can never be abandoned by any sensitive government. Let the government be sensitive to our needs in this part of the state and address this canal that has been abandoned for nine years,” another resident retorted.

    For Lawrence Akinbile, resolving the abandoned Alaramimo canal remains the solution to abating flood disaster in these parts. “The Governor should live by the slogan of his government by bringing progress to the people of this area. We have suffered for too long, we have bore this neglect for nine years, it is time for the government to bring smile to our face as it has been doing for several communities in different parts of the state since it came into power,” Akinbile noted.

  • Imo communities protest

    Major oil producing communities in Imo State have decried their alleged exclusion during last week’s visit of Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

    The communities blamed this on alleged bickering among politicians.

    They called on  Governor Rochas Okorocha to intervene and end the supremacy battle among politicians, especially his appointees.

    They alleged that the Acting President’s visit was hijacked by some politicians.

    The communities warned that the situation could compromise the peace in the area.

    The House of Assembly has summoned Deputy Chief of Staff Kingsley Uju to explain his “role” in shutting out communities during the visit.

    The House said Uju would answer to various allegations of high handedness and favouritism.

  • 26 Ilaje communities benefit from N168m projects

    Twenty six communities under the Ilaje Regional Development Committee (RDC) have benefited from 5,600 metres improved composite walkways among others, built at N168 million.

    The RDC distributed personal protective equipment to 300 fishermen.

    The committee was established in 2005 to speed up development of the Ilaje oil communities.

    Chairman Patrick Ehinmola, who inaugurated the projects, lauded Chevron Nig Ltd and the Ondo State government for the timely completion of the projects.

    The General Manager Policy and Public Affairs (PPGPA) of Chevron Nig Ltd, represented by Tony Emegore, praised the management committee and solicited more cooperation.

    The projects were inaugurated last week, dignitaries and traditional rulers attended the ceremony.

    Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Deji Ololajulo appealed for cooperation and urged people to desist from vandalising oil facilities.

    Residents praised the management of RDC and Chevron for the projects and appealed to the government to provide potable water and electricity.

  • Communities hail Ayade for providing transformers

    Communities hail Ayade for providing transformers

    Residents of communities in Obudu Local Government of Cross River State have hailed Governor Ben Ayade for providing them with seven 300KVA transformers to improve power supply.

    NAN reports the benefiting communities are Okutia, Ukpe, Betia, Ohon, Bebwagbon, Ikwumukera and Pan New Layout.

    Dr. Peter Ogban, a leader in Okutia, told NAN yesterday the governor fulfilled one of his campaign promises to the community.

    He said the transformers would improve power supply and boost economy.

    “We have been living in darkness for a long time. This transformer is like a new born baby to us and we will protect it.

    “I praise our governor for fulfilling his promise to improve electricity supply in this community,” Ogban said.

    A traditional head in Betia, Mr. Ashipu Adie, said electricity was essential for community development.

    He thanked the government for choosing the community as one of the beneficiaries of the gesture.

    Mr. Solomon Ubi, the youth leader of Ohon, said constant power supply would encourage youths to engage in meaningful ventures to generate income.

    “Electricity is crucial to the development of any society.

    “I assure you that when this transformer is connected to the grid, our young men and women will engage in profitable ventures,” he said.

  • Belema Oil promises host communities new deal

    An indigenous oil firm, Belema Oil Producing Limited has promised to minimise the issue of vandalism and restiveness through a better relationship, empowerment and scholarship for the members of the host communities.

    The firm said it will continue to do more in the area of employment and community development so as to maintain the existing peace within the jurisdiction of their operation.

    Speaking at the first meeting of the newly inaugurated Board of Directors of the company, the founder/ President of Belema Oil Producing Limited, Mr. Jackrich Tein said the firm is giving more attention to cooperate socio-responsibility.

    Tein who has employed more than 700 youths from the host communities in the area said if the firm must succeed, the host communities must be given the attention and respect not as members of the host communities  but as stakeholders.

    He noted that to fight vandalism, restiveness and hostility in Niger Delta region, the youth must be given the opportunity to serve, adding that even when they don’t have the skill, effort should be made to train them in the area of their priority.

    He called on the youths  to eschew violence and pipeline vandalism, stressing that aggressive agitation cannot solve any problem rather it will endanger the people and their environment.

    He said:  “Today, we have our first board of directors meeting, I have handed over  the company chairmanship position to Mr. Nedo Osayande and I’ m now the president  and other key position was also appointed just to reposition the company to be among the best in the world.

    “The only way to sustainable cohesion and peace is to involve host communities in the frontiers of ventures of this nature.  We are involving them by creating a huge employment opportunity for them. Give them relevant contracts, even if they don’t have the capacity but you teach them on how to form partnership and then they can showcase that ability to pursue their goal.

    “Involving them is also to increase production, since we took over production has been going high. We took over at 1,400 barrels a day but now we produce more than that a day these is because there has been a lot of cohesion within the local communities.”

  • Respite as communities get road, borehole

    Residents of Kekereowo, Shobowale and Mopelola in Ilasamaja, Mushin will ever remain obliged to their representative at the House of Representatives, Hon. Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla for bringing relief and succour to the community.

    Ayinla, who represents Mushin Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, inaugurated a borehole for residents of Mopelola Street and a standard culvert for residents of Kekereowo and Shobowale streets as well as clearing the blocked drainage system on the one kilometer-long Kekereowo Street.

    This brings to an end the perennial lack of potable water in Mopelola and years of flooding on Kekereowo/Shobowale streets and inability of residents of Shobowale Street to access Kekereowo Street due to bad condition of the road.

    With the provision of the culvert, residents of Shobowale Street can now drive in and out of the street through Kekereowo Street, a major road that links Ilasa, Mushin and Idi-Araba in Surulere.

    According to some residents, any time it rains, the Shobowale/Kekereowo axis of the road is always flooded and impassable. This, they said, is caused by blocked drainage system resulting from improper drainage to channel the coming from Shobowale Street into the water channel on Kekereowo Street. They regretted that the Chinese firm that constructed the one-kilometre long road did a shabby job. The flooding therefore destroyed the road and cut it off from Kekereowo Street. But this has been rectified by the intervention of the lawmaker.

    Answering reporters’ questions on the inauguration of the two projects, the lawmaker said there were many issues in the various communities that needed urgent attention but I will attend to these issues bit by bit. It is also a challenge to everyone who has the capability to improve on his environment to do so. It doesn’t have to be the government alone; this is part of my contributions to make my communities and my constituents better. I have been doing things such as empowerment and I will continue to do so. By next month, I will distribute N20, 000 to 600 people in my constituency to assist them in their various trades or to kick-start a trade.

    “We should always look out for what the communities lack in order to assist them. For me I would not allow the communities to suffer if I have the wherewithal to assist them. I will do everything within my power and capability to give them relief and that is exactly what I am doing with these two projects I just inaugurated. I am inspired to correct the ills in the society,” he said.

    While giving God all the glory, Ayinla said he feels good being able to help his constituents, adding that he is able to do what he is doing by the grace of God.

    He advised the residents to put to proper use the projects and endeavour to maintain them. If there is any problem with the borehole or the culvert, they should report to his constituency office.

    He advised wealthy individuals to contribute to the well-being of members of the society. This is because, whatever you do for others, you will gain the reward on the Day of Judgment. Commending the lawmaker, who he described as a pragmatic leader, for what he has been doing for the constituency, the Sole Administrator of Mushin Local Government Area, Hon. Yinka Kazeem said he was happy with the job the lawmaker did on the road.

    He advised the residents to maintain the infrastructure “because it belongs to them. We must keep watch and maintain the infrastructure in the community, it is very important,” he said.

    A member of the community who was also the contractor that handled the project, Chief James Osemede described the lawmaker as a listening representative. He said he called the attention of Ayinla to the bad state of the road.

    “Shobowale Street had been cut off from Kekereowo Street by flood and he agreed to take up the project personally since the local government or state Ministry of Works was not forthcoming and that was how he took it up,” he said.

    Osemede said he felt elated about the job done and everybody feels satisfied that he is listening to the community. In fact, Ayinla listens, he attends to people, he empowers people and indeed he has reached out to a lot of people.

    Osemede advised the residents to stop dumping garbage in the drainage system so as not to block them again and cause flooding that will again submerge and destroy the road.

    Another resident, Adeleke Samuel, thanked the lawmaker for fixing the road, which he said was impassable before because when it rains the whole road is flooded. “But with the construction of the culvert, the water now flows through; making the road passable.” He described the lawmaker’s gesture as worthy as it has brought succour to the people.

    Thanking the lawmaker for providing residents of Mopelola Street with borehole, a community member,  Gbolahan Olusoji said the community has been longing for a borehole for a couple of years and the lawmaker promised during his electioneering campaigns that he would give us one if voted into power. He has actually done it, he has fulfilled his promise.

    He said the community is very delighted with the provision of the borehole, even as he pleaded that their representative should continue to provide them with dividends of democracy.

    He advised the community to be security-conscious and to protect every project located in the community because it will benefit everybody.

    “The project is for us all and we should protect it consciously,” he said.

     

     

  • Communities decry four-decade post-civil war neglect

    Communities decry four-decade post-civil war neglect

    “No victor, no vanquished” was the pronouncement made on January 16, 1970 by the then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), at the end of the Nigerian Civil War. He also announced  a programme of “reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration, popularly known as the 3rs.” But 47 years after, Uli community, at the celebration of Uli Day, has accused the Federal Government of neglect. PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports 

    Uli is a border town located on the Onitsha-Owerri Road along Anambra and Imo states axis of the Southeast geo-political Zone. It is bordered by towns such as Oguta, Orlu, Ihiala and Nnewi. Each of these towns is less than 25 minutes’ drive from Uli.

    Uli and Amorka gained global recognition during the civil war as a result of their roles as the stronghold of the Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu-led Biafran Army. While Uli Airport served as the escape route for the late sage after the territory was captured by the Nigerian troops, Amorka was home to his secret underground bunk that had exit link with the airport.

    As the Federal Government prepares to commemorate this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD), those indigenous to Uli have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to revisit the post-civil war deliberations and ensure they are duly compensated.

    Despite promises by the government to initiate developmental projects as compensation to affected communities, the people of Uli and Amorka can only boast of ruined and abandoned infrastructure.

    To them, the Uli Airport would have been renovated and upgraded for commercial purposes considering the strategic location of the town.

    The people of Amorka believe that at least a Federal Government’s college or any institution that would attract development should have been situated in their community as compensation for the massive loss they incurred during the war.

    Even the Ojukwu Bunker which they felt the government should have preserved as a museum alongside other civil war assets, has been overgrown by weeds, and has become safe-haven for Marijuana smokers and other criminal elements.

    Southeast Report gathered from members of the community that in 2015, security forces recovered two of the bombs used during the civil war.

    An aged woman, who insisted that our correspondent must get at least two huge men armed with cutlasses before entering the dark bunker said: “You can see for yourself that a thick forest has covered the bunker. You cannot enter that place alone. It is very dangerous. Get at least two hefty men with cutlasses so that they would defend you. Also make sure they are people you know very well. My daughter, do not go into that place alone.

    “Ever since Ojukwu died, this place has been desolate. When he was alive, he usually came here with some of the Biafra supporters for private meetings. His helicopter would land at the borrow pit and then, a car would pick him and drive him into the bunker. After their meetings, they would leave the same way they came.

    “But since his death, the only time we noticed something happening here was when government people came to remove two bombs that have been here since the civil war. One of the bombs exploded but the other one didn’t.

    “The place has since become hideout for criminals and hemp smokers. I think the government needs to remember us by establishing something tangible in our community. It was not our fault that our land was used by the Biafran soldiers. The government should stop blaming us for what we didn’t do.

    “We do not even have light here. For over three years now, there is no electricity supply to the town but our neighbours in Imo State enjoy constant electricity supply. Why are we being punished?”

    According to the Chairman Caretaker Committee, Uli Progressive Union (UPU), Ogbuehi Dan Imochuckwu, the community has suffered decades of neglect simply because of its role during the war.

    In a chat with Southeast Report, during the Uli Day celebration, he said: “Uli was one of the towns that suffered during the civil war and it is still suffering. Uli has an Institute of Technology which was converted into a university when our son, Dr. Odera Mbadinuju was Governor.

    “But the university has been affected politically and most of the vibrant faculties relocated. The university is the only compensation the town has but it is now a shadow of itself.

    “I think the Federal Government is really punishing us for allowing our land to be used by Biafran authorities during the civil war; otherwise, they would have established something that would show federal presence here.

    “That is why we are appealing with the Federal Government to consider Uli by situating a federal institution in the town. The town has a good geographical location being that it is situated less than 45 minutes drives to either Onitsha or Owerri. It is also less than 20 minutes’ drive to Oguta Lake. There is need for federal presence in Uli to appease the people.”

    Similarly, the monarch of Uli, Igwe Damian Onyekonwu appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to remember the community by locating developmental projects here.

    He said: “Uli has benefitted nothing from the Federal Government. Tell President Muhammadu Buhari to please come and remember Uli. Uli is in the map of the world, it is not good that we are forgotten.”

    On the Uli Day celebration, the monarch said it’s a day the people of Uli home and abroad, gather to celebrate and brainstorm on best ways to move the community forward, adding that the event also served as a platform to reward hard work.

     

  • Five killed as suspected herdsmen attack Delta communities

    Five farmers have been feared killed in Abraka and Obiaruku communities in Ethiope East and Ukwuani local governments of Delta State, during clashes between farmers and suspected herdsmen.

    It was learnt farmers in the communities had been in a long-drawn faceoff with the herdsmen bause of incessant destruction of their farms by grazing cattle.

    Sources said tension escalated in the communities last week, following the clashes in which four men and one woman were killed.

    The sources said victims in the Abraka incident included two cousins – Akpovona Felix and Sunday Akpupu – who were indigenes of Eku community though residents of Abraka.

    Two of them were killed on their farms.

    Akpovona’s and Sunday’s bodies were discovered on their farms last Wednesday, the day after they went there to clear the land but did not return home. Their bodies were recovered by community scavengers on Wednesday afternoon in a bush said to be prone to herdsmen attacks.

    Akpovona, a father of five, was reportedly shot by the herdsmen while his cousin was hacked to death and his fingers chopped off.

    The second incident happened on a farm near a forest reserve on the Abraka-Benin Road, a boundary area between Urhoka-Abraka and Obiaruku.

    Two men and a woman were said to have been killed in the area. The victims were indigenes of Obiaruku community.

    A resident, Progress Aganbi said: “They went to the farm last Tuesday but did not return. The next day, a search party was sent to look for them. It discovered their bodies at separate locations near a river bank close to their farm.”

    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “I can only confirm that of Abraka, where two persons were killed. It was first reported as a case of a missing person on January 3. A resident, Akpovena Godwin, was reported his brother’s case. They are from Eku community.

    “By morning of January 4, they found the deceased and Sunday Akpokpo. Sunday was 40 years old while Felix Akpovena was 39. It was a case of murder. There’s the suspicion that it might have been a reprisal attack. We are still not giving up.”

     

  • Lafarge inaugurates N260m projects in two communities

    To improve the well-being of its host communities, Lafarge Africa has committed N260 million to community  projects in Ewekoro and Shagamu.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the projects, the Country CEO, Lafarge Africa PLC, who was represented by the Communication and Public Affairs Director, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, explained that the firm’s investments in corporate social responsibility (CSR) was aimed at developing its host communities.

    She said Lafarge Africa’s CSR investments were strategic, reiterating the company’s commitment to making positive impact in its host communities.

    Such CSR, she explained, was also borne out of its sustainability strategy with its four main pillars – climate, circular economy, water and nature.

    “Lafarge Africa’s CSR investments are strategic and needs-based. Our commitment to the development of our local communities is unwavering because we recognise host communities as strategic partners to our business,” she stressed.

    Some of the projects in Ewekoro  are a modern police station in Itori; a town hall in Olujobi and a block of classrooms at Lapeleke.

    No fewer than 119 indigenes have benefited from the firm’s Youth Empowerment Scheme while bursaries were given to 204 undergraduate students of the Ewekoro community.

    Other initiatives are farmers’ support programme, which  impacted 127 indigenes and elderly care support programme whose beneficiaries were about 128 senior citizens.

    In Shagamu, the firm said it has invested up to N100 million on community development projects. They include blocks of classrooms in some public schools, boreholes and a health clinic. Educational support materials as well as empowerment tools were also handed to beneficiaries from the various communities in Sagamu.

    The the cement giant offered bursary awards to 100 indigent students of institutions of higher learning and donated 150 dual lockers to public primary schools in Sagamu.

    Ogun State Commissioner for Community Development, Mr. Gbenga Ademosun, said Lafarge Africa has continued to project itself as a partner of the ‘’Gateway State’’ with its people-oriented CSR initiatives.

    He urged the host communities to continue to partner with the company to engender improved performance that would, in turn, make life better for the people of Sagamu, especially considering the economic challenges being faced by businesses.

    He urged the traditional rulers and the people of the communities to put to good use, the infrastructure and equipment received from Lafarge by developing a good maintenance culture.

    Elepe of Epe, Oba Adewale Osiberu, gave royal blessings to Lafarge Africa, for its good neighbourliness, assuring it of continued backing from the good people of Remo, while seeking unceasing   cooperation from the company.

    Also, the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akorede Akamo, prayed for the continued growth of the company, adding that the construction of a modern police station in the headquarters of Ewekoro Local Government would help to meet the security needs of the host community.

  • Our pains, by waterfront communities

    Our pains, by waterfront communities

    Protesters stormed Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode’s office, urging him to intervene in the invasion of their homes. The aggrieved residents of two waterfront communities (Otodo Gbame and Ebute-Ikate) and their counterparts from other slums were protesting the invasion  allegedly by police and some hoodlums; an action that left houses burnt and many homeless. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

    They came bearing placards, banners, leaves, household utensils. They were chanting war songs. They were no military battalions but residents of two waterfront communities in Lagos-Otodo Gbame and Ebute Ikate.

    Both communities, on the edge of the Lagos Lagoon, were made up predominantly of Eguns and other ethnic minorities in Lagos.

    They were protesting the alleged invasion of their communities by the police and hoodlums. They needed relief materials and emergency shelter. They also demanded investigation into the matter. But they were not alone; with them were members of other slums across the country, under the aegis of “Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation.”

    Some came with buses, others on foot. Men, women and children wearing school uniforms formed diverse groups and held placards and banners. They cried, chanted and screamed, demanding justice and answers.

    According to the protesters, their fishing settlements were allegedly burnt down and demolished by some hoodlums and the police between Wednesday, November 9 and Friday, November 11.

    The sea of protesters began their match on the morning of Tuesday, November 15 from Seven-Up Tollgate and stormed the office of Governor Ambode to protest what they referred to as injustice.

    During the protest, some residents recounted that in the early hours of November 9, some group of thugs reportedly tied to a powerful Elegushi Chieftaincy Family, entered the Otodo Gbame community, claiming the police also assisted them, it was alleged. They also alleged that  police  assisted  a  group  of  thugs  led  by  a member  of  the Elegushi  Chieftaincy  Family  to  set  fire  on  houses,  businesses  and  community  facilities.

    “The attack continued into the midnight and early hours of Thursday, November 10, as bulldozers reportedly began to destroy the remaining houses which fire could not effectively destroy. When  residents  tried  to  put out  the  fire,  the  police  chased  them  away  with teargas  and bullets, forcing residents to rush in to the Lagos Lagoon where several people drowned. Just  after  midnight,  in  the  wee  hours  of  November 10 ,  the  police  came  again with a bulldozer  to  demolish  what remained of the  community’s facilities  when residents  and  the  now homeless people were  sleeping. They again, set properties ablaze.

    “In the morning  of  November  11,  police  and a  demolition  squad  on  mufti  came suddenly  to  Ebute  Ikate,  an informal  settlement  contiguous to  Otodo  Gbame,  and  told residents  to  start  packing  their  loads.

    “The demolition  began  shortly  thereafter  as the bulldozer began destruction of  homes and  shops  and  police  setting  properties  on  fire,” according to the Profiling Coordinator, the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation, Akinrolabu Samuel.

    The affected residents said since November 11, they have been experiencing hard times. They have no shelter, access to clean water, food, and other basic needs. They alleged that every day, police would return to the community to harass and arrest residents, and set more properties ablaze.

    Speaking on behalf of the residents, Mr. Samuel said members of the slum advocacy group from across the country were standing in solidarity with the affected residents.  He blamed the government for the incidence, describing it as forced eviction.

    “We  condemn  the  forced  evictions  of  over  30,000  hardworking,  law-abiding citizens from Otodo  Gbame  and  thousands  more  from Ebute-Ikate  from November   9 to 11.  We in particular condemn the use of fire, demolition in the middle of the night, and the tragic loss of life of persons who drowned when chased by police into the Lagos Lagoon.

    “We also condemn the impunity. The  forced  eviction  of  Otodo  Gbame  was carried  out  in  blatant disregard  of  a  subsisting  order  of  the  Lagos  State  High  Court restraining the police and the Lagos State Government from carrying out any demolition or eviction of Otodo Gbame or other waterfront communities across Lagos State,” he said.

    They called for provision of relief materials and emergency shelter; while demanding justice and investigation into the matter.

    “We, at Nigerian  Slum/Informal  Settlement  Federation, are therefore, calling upon our elected leaders and the international community to demand and condemn the forced evictions in Otodo Gbame and Ebute Ikate; immediate  provision  of  relief  materials  and  emergency  shelter  for  those evicted,  along with  longer-term  plans  for  rebuilding  or  suitable  resettlement  of those evicted.  We also demand compensation for all losses, and a public apology from those responsible for the inhuman act; an immediate moratorium on demolitions in Lagos State and engagement with we, the urban poor, around alternatives to evictions; and public inquiry into the role of police and private interests in Lagos demolitions,” Samuel said.

    The protest ended late in the day with a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho urging that the House has already set up a committee to look into the Otodo Gbame incident, saying the residents would not be subjected to further harassment by the police.

    Meanwhile, Lagos State Government last Thursday denied claims of its involvement in the fire incident that took place in Otodo Gbame Community that is being circulated in the media. It refuted, in strong terms, the reports getting the rounds that it sanctioned the burning down of the community.

    In a statement, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the State Government shared in the painful loss of the residents, but, hinted that from police reports and evaluation by the government, the waterfront community was wrecked by fire incident that happened as a result of the ethnic clash that occurred between the Egun and Yoruba residents within the community.

    According to him, even though the police succeeded in stopping the clashes which occurred as a result of continued disagreement over tolling and other diverse disputes, the large part of the shanties had already been torched and razed down before the combined team of Fire Brigade and emergency rescue officers got to the scene on the night of Wednesday, November 9.

    “It is therefore unfortunate that a few aggrieved persons and fifth columnists will choose to blame the government and law enforcement officers that rose to the occasion in ensuring that the clashes did not degenerate further and more importantly that the arson did not spread into Lekki Phase 1,” Ayorinde said.

    The commissioner said while the Otodo Gbame shanties clearly fell within the prime waterfront areas where Lagos State Government would prefer to have better development, befitting of a prime area in a mega city, it was mindful of the fundamental rights of the various residents living in the area.

    According to Ayorinde, while government was not unaware of the legal tussle over the areas and the rights of citizens to stage peaceful protests, relevant agencies of government had since been deployed to provide succour and lessen the pains of the displaced people.

    The statement warned both local and foreign individuals or groups that may be using the unfortunate incident to perpetrate wrong and unfounded information to desist from taking advantage of an unfortunate development and the plight of the former residents of Otodo Gbame. He added that the government is determined to improve on urban development and looking after the infrastructural needs of all residents.

    The commissioner, however, urged residents of the state to refrain from any act that could threaten the peace of their areas and pledged that government would continue to ensure the safety of lives and property and promote peaceful coexistence needed for speedy development of the state.