Aboru residents in Alimosho Local Government of Lagos State yesterday counted loses caused by flood; this followed a heavy rain that lasted from Sunday night till early hours of Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that because of the flood, residents could not sleep.
NAN observed that they stood at the frontage of their houses and shops, lamenting the havoc caused by the rain.
Some were seen carrying belongings affected by the rain outside.
Fences were pulled down, while the Aboru Road in Iyana-Ipaja was filled with mud and garbage moved to the area by the flood.
Residents and shop owners, who spoke with NAN, attributed the recurring flood to the alleged abandoned bridge connecting Iyana-Ipaja to Aboru.
They said the bridge was taking much water than it could.
According to the people, whenever it rained, not only in the area but also in other places such as Abule Egba, Abattoir in Agege, the water being channelled to the bridge affected residents of the area.
An elderly landlord, Mr Solomon Egbodhoroma, said: “We have been suffering because of the abandoned bridge.”
He alleged that what the government built was a culvert and not a bridge.
Egbodhoroma said: “I could not sleep since 2 am when the rain started because the water spilt over to the window level of my one storey building and pulled down my fence.
“Our challenge in Aboru is the canal that the government refuses to construct. What is here is better described as a culvert, not a bridge. Every year, we suffer a lot and lose property.
“The recurrent flood has sent away people on my ground floor as you can see. I have been restricted to the upstairs and every year, my house is always affected.
“The channelisation of over 35 drainages to this area is a problem we face. The government has refused to do it even after the contract was said to have been awarded in 2012.’’
The retired civil servant, who recalled that he got to the area in 1979, said landlords had made efforts to fix the problem.
“We have written to the state government and house of assembly without result.
“After series of letters, the government refused to answer us. We went there to protest and they promised to come, but they did not. We are appealing to the government to come and build this bridge.
“Where can I go from here being close to 70 years? A lot of people have left after losing property. I have suffered enough,” he said.
A septuagenarian landlord, Harry Iduwe, urged the government to help them by ensuring the construction of a standard bridge that could withstand the volume of water channelled into it.
Iduwe, whose house was also affected by the flood, said the canal had been bringing untold hardship annually to residents.
“Any time it rains, we are in trouble, as water flows from the canal to the streets. We implore the government to assist us,” he said.
A furniture maker, Mr Gift Wejem, said the flood did not only carry away a set of furniture and wood kept outside the shop but also affected materials, machines and power plant kept in the shop.
“The situation was not like this when I came in. The problem is flood and the increasing volume of water channelled here. The bridge we have here is not a bridge.
“Since much water is expected to pass into it, it gets filled up and water flows back to nearby houses,” he said.
Mr Suleiman Adedokun, a shop owner, said: “This water is too much. It entered my shop. As you can see, I have been moving the water out since morning.
“The government should please come and do this canal, drains and road. It is long overdue. This road and drain must be raised to end our plight.”
NAN
READ ALSO: EFCC: FAYOSE REGAINS FREEDOM FROM EFCC
Send Us News, Gist, more... to citypeopleng@gmail.com | Twitter: @CitypeopleMagz
