Landlords and Residents of houses along Isheri/Bucknor/Jakande which is in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area have appealed to the Lagos State Government to reconsider the proposed demolition of houses in the area as the water have now been channeled towards a different route to stop flooding.
The affected property owners, in a joint statement on Thursday, said “The area in question (Isheri, Jakande and Bucknor) is a valley plain which was clearly laid out in plots by the owners. We never experienced flooding until some individuals colluded with some members of the family to buy portions of it, thereby infringing on its right of way. Due to the blockade, flash flooding became the new order from 2012. This led to a diversion of the stream upwards.
“As work on the drain progressed, we suddenly noticed a second marking of the buildings on January 19 and as if that was not enough, a third marking was made on February 22, all pointing upwards on the plane.
“The questions now are: does water flow upwards if not powered by a force? Would it not end up as a wastage that failed to achieve its purpose? We call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and good spirited members of the public to come to our aid in whatever capacity and put a stop to the impending and unjustified calamity that is progressively reeling its ugly head.”
While responding to the proposed demolition, the Director of Drainage Enforcement and Compliance, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Mahmood Adegbite, said that the demolition is inevitable as they have been served a six month notice from last year yo this year. He adds that their aim is not to destroy properties unnecessarily but to find a channel route fro the water to pass so as to reduce flooding.
Adegbite however asked those who have their land approval to visit the ministry as this is the only set of people they are exempting from the demolition.
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