Residents of Orile-Odogun community, Ikorodu, Lagos, seem not to be daunted by the floods, which have submerged the entire area since last week.One of our correspondents, who visited the area on Monday, observed that the level of the water had risen well over four feet as houses have been submerged.PUNCH METRO learnt that due to the level of the floods, residents resorted to using canoes to navigate the area.The Baale of the community, Mr. Ibrahim Esilokun, blamed the disaster on governments negligence.He said, "The government opened up the dam completely and the water was channelled here. The dam wasnt just built; it has been there for many years."In the past, when it overflowed, it was opened in such a manner that it wouldnt affect people. I dont know why government has adopted this new system of opening up the dams and inconveniencing us."When asked if the residents of the community were willing to relocate, Esilokun said residents preferred to live in the floods."This is not the first time this kind of thing is happening. It happened last year as well. Residents have got accustomed to it and we have found a way to live with floods," he said.Esilokun, who expressed cynicism at efforts made by government to salvage the situation, said the government was only paying lip service to the plight of the community."Last year, when government assisted some people at Ajegunle with relief items, they did not come here," he said.Another resident, Mr. Akinwunmi Jimoh, said rather than asking the people to relocate, government should find a lasting solution to the problem."Government uses relocation as a ploy to eject people so that they can take possession of their lands. That was what happened in Maroko, Victoria Island, many years ago," he said.Also, residents of communities on Ikorodu Road through which the overflowing Ogun River runs, said they would resist any attempt by the Lagos State Government to eject them from their flooded homes.When PUNCH METRO visited Agiliti, Mile 12 and Ajegunle in Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area on Monday, some residents threatened to beat up reporters who attempted to take photographs of their flooded homes.A resident of Afinjuomo Street, who later agreed to speak with one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said their anger was born out of a rumour making the rounds that the government was planning to demolish houses in the area.He said, "Can you blame us' How can you ask us to leave our houses just because they are flooded' We are accustomed to this kind of situation. "What happened to those people who were asked to leave last year and were accommodated at the Agbowa Relief Camp' Most of those who went to the camp were not landlords they were tenants. It is not as simple as that for a house-owner."At Ajegunle, it was noticed that many of the flooded streets were being accessed by makeshift plank bridges built by residents.On Ajewole Street, a youth, who took part in the construction, Michael Anioke, said the bridges were part of the residents resolve not to leave the area."The bridges will serve their purpose until the water draws back. But leaving our homes is not an option," he said. However, some of the houses close to the channel of the Ogun River have been vacated as the water level has made it impossible to live inside them.Some residents of Ajegunle community have also found a way of making brisk business by operating canoes. The residents board the canoes from the main road to their different flooded houses. The operators collect N20 per trip.A canoe operator, Mr. John Peter, said he started the business on Saturday and made an average of N1,500 per day from ferrying people across the streets.At least five boats were seen on Unity Street, where one of our correspondents took a boat ride into the community."We are accustomed to the water overflowing into this area. The only difference is that since last year, the floods have become worse in this area," a resident, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Omirinde, said.At Mile 12, the water level was not high enough, so residents waded through to get into their houses. Houses along the river channel in Agiliti area of Mile 12 have been deserted because the level has made crossing impossible. The residents of the communities, however, said no life had been lost to the floods.At Isheri, a border community between Lagos and Ogun states, children were seen walking the streets aimlessly as their schools have been flooded.Mrs. Adenike Surakat, the wife of the Baale of River View Estate, Isheri-Olofin, Ogun State, who sells cement, said the floods destroyed her goods worth thousands of naira."The flooding we experience in this area is becoming a perennial problem and the government is not doing anything about it. I have closed down my shop owing to the floods. About 20 bags of cement were destroyed in my shop over the weekend. Besides, we have left our bungalow apartment and moved to our uncompleted one-storey building," Surakat said.When asked if she was planning to relocate, Sukurat said such decision was difficult because of the money they had spent on the buildings and the fact that her husband is a native of the community.At Isale Oro Street, Isheri-Olofin, Ogun State, a bungalow, which is flooded has been deserted. A resident, who refused to give his name, said the house was deserted over the weekend.Another resident of the estate, Mr. Lawal Abayomi, who was away when the area was flooded, said all his home appliances and other property were destroyed before he returned."Ogun State Government should demolish houses, which are built on drainage channels. If that will be the solution to our problems in this area such measures should be taken," he said.For Mr. Biola Bankole, a resident of Isheri North area, Lagos, the floods were due to total neglect of the community by the government."Even in the local council election that was held on Saturday we were not allowed to vote. We dont even know our leaders needless to talk of holding them up to their promises to us. Schools have continued to relocate from this area as the floods have kept the children away from going to schools," Bankole said.At Mokore in Warewa community of Ogun State, the residents now board canoes to get to the dry land.One of our correspondents, who visited the community on Monday observed that many residents were in despair, yet they were willing to stay on. A resident, who identified herself simply as Juliana, said she and her family were not contemplating leaving their apartment.Another resident of the area, Mr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, who is just constructing his building, said the floods had put him in a dilemma.He said, "The problem is a very big one. I do not know what the government is doing about it. It is high time the government provided temporary accommodation for the affected residents."Right now, I do not know what to do. I do not want to believe that the money I used in buying the property is a waste. I have got to a state of no retreat, no surrender."At Isheri Olofin, in Ifo Local Government area of Ogun State, workers, pupils and other road users have to navigate through the floods to get to their various destinations, because most of the roads have been submerged by water. A cross-section of the residents appealed to Governor Ibikunle Amosun to rescue them from the yearly suffering. The Principal of Hydeal Educare School, Mr. Tony Tenebe, said the percentage of pupils attendance had reduced as a result of the flooding. "The pupils attendance has been epileptic, if they attend school today, they will be absent the next day. I think it is because of the bad roads, and some of their houses were affected by the floods, so they have to help their parents at home to drain the water," he said. A resident, who identified himself simply as Anthony, attributed the problem to the release of water from the Oyan Dam, adding that children could no longer attend school. The Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, told PUNCH METRO in an email that the state government would continue to persuade them on the need to avert danger to their lives and properties.Olaniyonu said, "It is obvious that a lot of the property development around Isheri area ought not to be there in the first place. The Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Adebayo Faari, was there at Isheri-Olofin and Sparklight Estate on Saturday and explained to them. He was also at Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority earlier today (Monday). "The government is planning to have at least one rehabilitation centre in each of the senatorial district of the state. We will do our best to alleviate the suffering of our people and ensure no life is endangered.People should avoid exposing themselves unnecessarily to apparent danger. We sympathise and empathise with the people concerned."
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