…Cautions against spreading of unverified news on social media
The Lagos State Government on Thursday denied the unsubstantiated claims being circulated in some sections of the media and on social media of its involvement in the fire incident that took place in Otodo Gbame Community in Lekki area of the State last Wednesday.
The State Government specifically punctured media reports suggesting that it authorized the burning down of the community, saying that the allegation was far from the truth.
The State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, in a statement, said the State Government shared in the painful loss of the residents but explained that from Police reports and evaluation by the government, the waterfront community was razed by the fire incident that happened as a result of the ethic clash that occurred between the Egun and Yoruba residents within the community.
Ayorinde said while the Police succeeded in bringing to a halt the deadly clashes which occurred as a result of continued disagreement over tolling and other sundry issues, 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 9th.
“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 succor 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, adding that the State Government would not be blackmailed with cheap, sensational interjections from the onerous task of better securing Lagos, improving on urban development and looking after the infrastructural needs of all residents.
The Commissioner also urged the people 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.
Similarly, the State Government has also urged residents especially users of social media as a source of news and social interaction to be mindful of the source of their information to avoid spreading false and unsubstantiated materials.
Ayorinde said a case at hand is the alleged brutalization and killing of a 7-year-old pilferer that reportedly happened at a certain location in Lagos being circulated on social media.
According to the Commissioner, the Lagos State Police command has duly issued a statement questioning the authenticity of the story while asking for eye witnesses or anyone with verifiable information to come forward with information as the Police continue with their investigation.
“While we condemn in its entirety every form of crime and jungle justice, it is important to plead caution whenever a human life is involved. So far, there is no indication that the dastardly act being peddled on social media happened anywhere in Lagos State or that it is a recent case.
“The Police have promised to carry out further checks and will welcome every useful information, but available information at the moment does not suggest that such killing happened last Saturday at either Orile-Iganmu or Badagry. There is no any corpse that fits the description in any area being touted; just as the location of anyone with useful information to corroborate the sad tale being peddled cannot be established,” he said.
Tag: Otodo Gbame community
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Lagos denies demolishing Otodo Gbame community
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Yoruba/Egun clash: Residents storm Ambode’s office
Residents of Otodo-Gbame Community in Eti-Osa Local Government, protesting the demolition of over 800 structures within the community, yesterday stormed the office of the Lagos State Governor and House of Assembly, bringing activities at both offices, to a halt.
Like they did on Monday, the residents besieged the Governor’s office, saying they had come again to express their displeasure over the demolition of structures in the over 100-year-old community.
As at 2pm, both entrances to the Governor’s office, the House of Assembly, Mobolaji Johnson Road and Governor’s Road were all barricaded by the protesters who chanted several songs depicting the hardship they had been subjected to.
One of the residents said about eight persons drowned while trying to escape from the scene of the clash, between the Yoruba and Egun residents, through the lagoon behind the community.
Also, Mobolaji Johnson and Governor’s Road were barricaded by the protesters who chanted several songs to express the hardship they had been subjected to.
The policemen attached to the governor’s office had a hectic time trying to disperse the protesters who had prevented a guest to the Governor’s office from gaining entrance into the premises, forcing the police attaché to fire shots in the air to scare the protesting residents.
One of the residents, Muhammed Zana, said: “Officials of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) shot in the air to scare us. They almost run over us with their cars. But we have resolved to continue to barricade the entrance until we get assurance from the governor or his deputy, directing the police to leave their community.”
Moses Dansu, who said he is the son to the Baale of Otodo-Gbame community, lamented that he couldn’t tell the whereabouts of his family, saying “My family is scattered. I don’t know where they are at the moment. My father, the Baale has been arrested without any charge.
“I voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to come into power but I am disappointed that the party has come back to demolish our houses. I am a barber in the community. All my tools have been set ablaze by the police. I don’t know where to start. At the moment, I only have one cloth and shoe left and that is what I have on me.”
The residents under the aegis of Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation also alleged that on November 10, the police came back with a bulldozer and began to set the houses ablaze, adding “Despite call higher levels of the police, including the Complaints Response Unit and others, there was no respite to protect lives and properties.”
Dansu lamented that the police had been visiting the community since last week and allegedly setting their structures ablaze.
He noted that “on Sunday, the police stormed the community and set the structures left ablaze. Also, yesterday, they visited the community and chased the residents away to set fire on the structures they found within the community.”
Another resident, who identified herself as Iya Rahman, said “our mosque has been burnt by the police. They came last Sunday and set all structures ablaze. And when we tried protesting against their action, the police argued that we have been directed to leave the community.”
As at press time, n official of the state government had attended to the protesters as the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode had travelled out for an official assignment.
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Thirst on the river bank
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For residents of a Lagos community, it’s water, water everywhere, but not enough to drink
In Otodo Gbame, a community located at the back end of the highbrow Lekki area of Lagos, potable water does not come cheap for dwellers on the shanty space. HANNAH OJO, who paid repeated visits to the community, captured the plight of the people with regard to water and sanitation.
Living on the bank of a river conveys a refreshing life filled with excitement. But the reverse appears to be the case for the more than 20, 050 people occupying the large expanse of land in Otodo Gbame, a community in the backwaters of the highbrow Lekki Peninsula, Lagos. An island set on the bank of a fetid lagoon in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, life on the river bank has made them tenants to the twin problems of poverty and disease.
Assessing the community from a labyrinth of paths, one trudges through the sea bed with both feet sinking at every step, even as the air flings back grains of sand to the ankle. Many houses in the community are built on stilts standing on murky water, others on the river banks and ocean sand. There is no toilet in sight.
Otodo Gbame came into prominence six months ago when a measles epidemic broke out, killing 26 children. Afflicted children showed symptoms like rashes and pains. Many of them passed out within two or three days of infection with the virus. After the epidemic, government had to administer measles vaccination on many of the children.
Despite the fragile health status of children in the community, not much appears to have changed when the reporter visited recently. Open defecation and foul odour still pervaded the atmosphere. The reporter saw children defecating in the open and adults going to the sea shores to answer the call of nature.
Theirs is a pathetic irony: a people who live on the bank of a river, but have no access to safe drinking water. The development eats deep into the pockets of many of the residents. The current downturn in the economy has also made it impossible for the locals, many of whom make their living from fishing, to purchase packaged water.
Some men who have cashed in on the problem as a business opportunity peddle big canoes carrying tanks of water to other areas, which they return to sell to inhabitants of the community. With a 25-litre keg costing N60, the price is considered cheaper to a litre of sachet water which is sold at N10. However, the process of bringing this water through the Lagoon predisposes it to contamination.
Pascal Torsigu, a man in his early 40s, was the first to start the business of supplying borehole-treated water to the community. He is joined by three other men who are also involved in the business. They go as far as Makoko and Yaba to fill the tanks they ship back to the community.
“We pay N10, 000 to fill our tanks and also buy fuel to power our machine. We spend an average of three hours for the round trip and come back to sell the water to people in the community”.
Although his effort appears to have provided respite, it does come with its own challenges. He said: “The engine of our canoe sometimes gets faulty. This does not only lead to delays, it compromises our gains. We also face harassment from Policemen who demand bribes.
“Sometimes, managers of the boreholes in Makoko prevent us from fetching water as they demand for higher pay when they have to power the borehole engine with gasoline.”
Click photos for panoramic view
In recent times, the locals have also been at a great disadvantage owing to the dredging activities of construction companies which are building luxury apartments on the Lagoon shores. This is not only closing up the river banks, it has also affected the livelihoods of residents of the community, 80 percent of who are fishermen.
The foregoing has reduced the spending power of the locals, making them spend less on potable water. Some would boil well water to drink, a practice that contributes to the burden of diseases and ill-health in the community.
Although there are about 30 wells dug up in the communities, they are only to supply water for bathing and washing.
“One does not need a doctor to see that the water is not safe for drinking,” says Titilayo Zosu, a 24-year-old mother of two.
Continuing, she said: “I only use the well water to bathe and wash plates.
“I have discovered rashes on my skin and I suspect it to be the result of the water because it has changed in colour as dredging activities have increased in the community.
“My household spends N1,000 weekly to buy water from vendors who bring water from Makoko. It has strained the family’s budget, leaving us with less to spend on other life necessities,” she told the reporter.
It can be easily concluded that women and children are the worst hit by the scarcity of potable water plaguing the community. Benedict John, a fish trader, told our reporter that although she had her children vaccinated for measles after the outbreak of the disease, she still shakes with fear each time her children come down with high temperature.
“One cannot trust these children as they can drink any water they find lying around the place. Our people are forced to buy water in big tanks to cater for cooking and drinking.
“Now that the pace of dredging has increased, it has contaminated the water table of our wells and the effect is showing on our skin. Many people are coming on with rashes here and there,” she explained in a distressed tone.
Mr. Solomon Hunesu, a social worker and community leader, told The Nation that the challenges confronting the communities in terms of water and sanitation is pathetic.
He said: “Getting potable water here would be capital-intensive for an individual. It is not just about digging a mere well or borehole, it would cost between 16 and 20 million naira.
A borehole with water treatment would go to the depth of the water table as far as 500 to 700 metres. They have to break the rock to get water. The water at the surface here is salty.
Hunesu, who has been in the frontline of pushing the needs of the community with government, said letters have been written to corporate organisations and government to come to the aid of the community.
He also disclosed that the burden of water and sanitation in the community is complicated with the dredging activities of money bags and construction companies building luxury apartments on the island.
The development has not only compromised the water tables of some of the wells dug up in the community, it has also taken economic toils on the people.
Findings also revealed that lack of potable water comes with great health implications, which have claimed the lives of many, especially children.Like water, like sanitation
Since the community is plagued by a shortage of portable water, it is not surprising that sanitation also suffers a setback. A government health worker who catered to children during the measles outbreak disclosed to The Nation on condition of anonymity that the community will continue to be plagued by diseases if a lasting solution is not found to the problem of potable water shortage.
The government worker said: “Many children here are susceptible to fever. There have also been cases of gastrointestinal complications since many have reported cases of vomiting and stooling. Of course, it is common sight to see stunted children looking too small for their age. Although I must confess that these children are strong, I wonder how they still survive despite the depth of dirt they are faced with on a daily basis.”
With waste littering many paths in the community and an unpleasant odour hanging perpetually in the atmosphere, the question that comes to mind is the effort the community members have made in addressing the issue of sanitation.
“We have video evidence and audio to show that we engage in sanitation activities frequently. The only challenge is that most times, cart pushers send their refuse through the bridges into the shores of the waterways, polluting the waters and affecting fishing activities.
“This development has dampened the spirit of the people who would put in efforts to clean the water shores only to discover that the dirt has returned to the sea shores the next day,” Henesu offered.
On close observations, there were no incinerators and waste bags where people in the community could dispose their waste.
In April this year, stakeholders in the Ministry of the Environment gathered for an in-house retreat to consolidate the Water and Sanitation (WASH policy) yet to be implemented in the state. Part of the recommendations made from the retreat was the need to have a WASH department in all the local government areas within the state as well as employ more environmental health officers. The need to develop a robust mechanism for enforcement and compliance of sanitation laws within the state was also mentioned.
Also proposed is the need to establish a Water Council in the state and a framework geared towards harmonising all relevant laws relating to the water sector in order to avoid conflicts.
“Through the WASH policy, we are teaching mothers to be hygienic and use safe water to provide food for their babies. The number one killer of children is diarrhea. So if we take care of the safe water part of it, that would lead to decline in the death of children,” said Dr. Babatunde Adejare, the Commissioner for Environment told the reporter during the retreat. -
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Strange outbreak hit Lagos community
An outbreak described as fatal febrile rash illnesses has been recorded in Otodo Gbame community in Eti-Osa LGA, area of Lagos State.
It was identified by the Medical Officer of Health of the LGA on the 9th February. The report indicated that many children died as a result of the outbreak.
Already 20 children had died as the cause of the outbreak remains unknown, just as 34 cases of sick children with described as Febrile Rash Illnesses (FRI) have been line listed.
The fatality of the outbreak was also confirmed as the graves of 20 children who died from the FRI since the day of onset of signs and symptoms in the first case on 6th January 2016, were identified by their parents.
Thirty-Four cases have been listed so far with 17 males and 17 females. 17 dead patients have been identified with nine males and eight females. All are within the age range of eight to 72 months.
Health Commissioner, Lagos, Dr Jide Idris said his ministry has notified the Federal Ministry of health (FMOH) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) and immediately constituted a team of Epidemiologists to investigate the outbreak and institute appropriate measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
Dr Idris said: “The ministry drew up an investigation plan to investigate the outbreak, verify reported deaths and report findings and recommendations. The disease causing the outbreak is yet to be confirmed. However, the signs and symptoms are suggestive of Febrile Rash Illnesses. Blood samples (and throat swabs) from the patients and water samples from the community have been taken to the Virology Reference Laboratory at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory (DQCL), LASUTH, Ikeja respectively. The source of the infection is still under investigation.”
The Commissioner described the place where the outbreak is recorded- Otodo Gbame community as an expansive, sandy riverine, flood prone and camp-lie settlements with an estimated population of 100,000 people.
“The people are mainly Egun, however there are other tribes in the minority. The community is a slum with waste deposited at different spots. There are many scattered shallow wells in the community. The water from the wells is found to be used mostly for bathing, washing and cooking. Majority of the citizen claimed it is not used for drinking but a few said they sometimes drink from the well. The community head Chief Hunpe Dansu confirmed the outbreak of the Febrile Rash illnesses,” said Dr Idris.
Dr Idris said: “The government is presently intensifying efforts to conduct mapping of all slums and blighted areas in the state towards reducing the health hazards associated with such areas. The people are hereby enjoined to join hands with the government in the identification of slums and in ensuring environmental sanitation at all times. And members of the public and health workers are to report any strange illness to the nearest health facility or call the following lines- 08037170614, 08055281442 and 08023169485.”
To control the disease and prevent further spread and avert additional deaths, the ministry has intensive awareness creation and community mobilisation and health education is ongoing through meetings and community dialogues. Continuous health education of the community on immunisation, measles and personal and environmental hygiene are on-going.
“House-to house search for cases is still ongoing. Forty seven sick children were found, out of which 34 were line listed as Febrile Rash Illnesses. Immediate immunisation of children with measles vaccine is on-going in the community. A total of Five Hundred and Eighty-Seven eligible children were immunised with measles vaccine and administered with Vitamin A. Eight blood samples and seven throat swabs were collected from cases of FRI and sent to the laboratory for measles and other possible viral illnesses. Follow up on suspected children who are undergoing treatment to monitor recovery and intervene with further medical attention if required. Seven cases were already followed up as at 15th February, with Six recovering while one who was still ill was immediately taken to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Ikate for further medical attention, while further investigation is still on-going,” said Dr Idris.