The Lekki Estate Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) on Tuesday said that efforts to reduce the flooding situation in the area were ongoing ahead of the September-October rain projections.
LERSA President, James Emadoye, who made this known in Lagos, also called for the completion of the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
Emadoye explained that the intervention became necessary following the flooding mishap recorded earlier in the year which distorted normalcy of Lekki dwellers.
“Lagos generally is below sea level. Lekki which is a large area is very close to the sea shore, so we have to do all we can to ensure we have a good environment.
“We have done a lot of work among various estates to ensure the rains does not wash us away and we expect a better situation than what we had earlier in the year.
“We are also in collaboration with the state government to ensure most of the drains are cleared as it has already been projected that we are expected to have heavy downpour this September.
“We implore residents to inform the association of blocked drainages around their localities for speedy actions,’’ he said.
In a plea to ease the sufferings of commuters along the Lekki-Epe axis, Emadoye urged the government to resume its efforts at ensuring the completion of the tolled Lekki-Epe Expressway.
He noted that work on the road had come to a halt for close to two years for about one kilometre after Abraham Adesanya Estate.
He also called for the creation of an alternative route due to the level of economic development and activities the location is currently experiencing.
“The road is a major problem for those who live in lekki as it is the only road that leads people into the axis.
“Should anything like a major accident happen on the road, residents are then cut off from the rest of Lagos metropolis.
“People at this end are really suffering and when there is downpour, it takes about three hours to move from Abraham Adesanya to Sangotedo or further to Abijo Crown Estate.
“We therefore plead with the state government to resume work immediately in order to justify the toll being collected for over 12 years and bring succour to residents,” Emadoye said.
He noted the readiness of the association and residents to cooperate with the government in ensuring the progress in the state.
Speaking on the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, the association appealed to the Federal Government to ensure a more conducive environment for Nigerian citizens and protect their businesses.
Emadoye noted that plans to set up a security fund, Lekki Security Trust Fund, to intervene and assist in the security of the environment, was ongoing.
He urged federal, states and local governments to change their strategies toward ensuring a productive economy that would accommodate Nigerians.
He said: “Very obviously is the fact that Nigerians are everywhere in the world and the moment a Nigerian steps foot outside the country, he does excellently well but the moment he comes back home, then there are challenges.
“We need to go back to the drawing board and make Nigeria a more productive nation.’’
The Secretary-General, LERSA, Mr Degbemi Adelekan, called for the duplication of the Iyana Oworonshoki bus stop at the Ilajeh-Ajah bus stop to ease the flow of traffic experienced by residents.
“We pay for toll and our land use charge is probably more than any other place in Lagos.
“Considering the money we generated, the government should be able to reciprocate by providing basic amenities for us,’’ Adelekan said.
He was optimistic about the ability of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to turn the city around and make it a mega-city.
