Lawmakers, constituents and administrators in Mushin 2 Constituency and Ojo Constituency 1 in Lagos State have expressed concern about threats posed by increasing flood and other environmental challenges.
A member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Olawale Abdul-Sobur, made this known at a Stakeholders’ Constituency Meeting, with the theme: “Environmental Challenges: Community Engagement to Facilitate Lasting Solution’’, held in Mushin on Wednesday.
Abdul-Sobur said that the most challenging in Mushin 2 Constituency was the increasing and threatening environmental issue.
He said that the environmental issues facing the state and Mushin in particular, were constant flooding and drainage-related matters.
“I have set up an ad hoc committee which has gone round the state on oversight of existing contracts in respect of our channels and drainages in the state.
“Despite several efforts being put in place to sensitise residents on the need to protect the environment, some still prefer to violate the environmental laws which has frustrated our efforts and investments in the sector.
“Although a lot of work still need to be done for us to achieve our desired results as stated by the present administration in its six pillars of developing Lagos State.
The lawmaker appealed to residents to comply with environmental laws and embrace attitudinal change and join hands with the administration in a renewed commitment to preserve the environment.
He thanked the constituents for encouraging them and giving them positive feedback.
Abdul-Sobur said he was certain that the outcome of the meeting would further enhance the collaborative efforts toward making the state the centre of excellence that it was.
At the meeting, the Mushin Local Government Chairman, Emmanuel Bamgboye, said his works could speak for him, citing the various road constructions he had embarked on and the ones he had completed.
“We did a network road at Ilasa, Idi Oro and we are presently doing two others. We have tarred over 18 roads and repaired various street lights.
“About the recurrent repairs of the Mushin road, we are doing our home-work. We want to take a holistic approach; the act of patching and repairing has not worked, so we are working on it.
Also in Ojo Constituency 1, the residents demanded for people-oriented facilities to enable them live a better life.
The residents made the appeal during the Stakeholders’ Constituency Meeting which was at the instance of the state government for the people to evaluate the performance of their representatives and chart a way forward.
Mr Folorusho Gbolagade, a Civil Engineer, while making his remark on the threat of flood in the area said that, the area being coastal needed a deeper canal.
The engineer said that “many buildings in the Iba area of the constituency were on the verge of collapse due to improper channeling of water, shallow and in some cases unavailable drainages.
“Also, there is a need for removal of water hyacinth on the waters and the mounting of night security surveillance on the area to check people dumping refuse bins on the water bodies.
“Many buildings in the area are on the verge of collapse due improper channeling of water and inadequate facilities to contain the crisis,’’ he said.
Mr Haruna Olatunji, a former Education Director, said that with the upsurge in population in the Okokomaiko area, there was need to establish more schools in the area.
“Children in this place go through difficulties to go to Ojo and other adjoining towns for schooling. The situation has led to many school drop-outs and it is not helping the society,’’ he said.
Olatunji appealed that the facilities provided for the area should be evenly spread.
In his remarks at the meeting, the lawmaker representing the area, Mr Victor Akande, told the people that the focus of the meeting was the environment.
Akande noted that the peoples’ inputs were needed to guide the state in addressing the environmental challenges.
He said: “Curbing the continued indiscriminate dumping of refuse on streets drainages and major highways is of concern to the state.
“Enlightening residents on the hazard posed by this unsocial conduct is also of significance to the state.’’
According to him, most of the people’s demands are already captured in my party’s plan for the area and will be attended to.
