19th January, 2011
Members of the Soyinka Residents Association, Soyinka street, New Oko-Oba, Abule-Egba, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, have called on the Lagos State government to come to their rescue as a canal in the area has become a death trap.
Mr. Fagbemi Kazeem, the Assistant Secretary of the residents’ association, said that a letter backed by photographs and a video cassette was sent to the state government on 8 June, 2010, seeking for the re-construction of the bridge and to clear the canal under Jonathan Coker bridge, but the community is still awaiting government response.
“Now the place has become so terrible that few months ago, we had about four fatal accidents. The same thing happened on Christmas day when a car fell into the canal, and we reported the problem at the nearest Police Station.
“We do not want to experience such accidents again; that is why we are calling on the state government to come to our aid on this problem; and the earlier they do this, the better for everybody,†the secretary stated.
Some motorists in the area said that the road has become impassable for vehicles and that since the canal has taken over a larger part of the road, they have resorted to parking their vehicles for from the security of their homes.
“We are appealing to the Lagos State government to come to our rescue and save our lives, family, properties and business that are being threatened by flood,†said the motorist.
—Lukman Abiose
