Residents of Fowora Close for Ajao Estate, Lagos State, don dey cry out over serious flooding wey don dey disturb dem for many years. Dem dey complain say drainage project wey government contractors suppose do don abandon, and water dey enter house dey destroy property.
According to Chairman of Ajao Estate East Community Development Association, Olusegun Fowora, dis flooding matter don dey since 2007, but e don worse as construction for area increase. Floodwater from Awoniyi Elemo and Adele Close dey flow enter Fowora Close, and anytime rain fall, di whole area dey under water, sometimes up to two feet deep.
Fowora talk say residents don write plenty letters to government agencies like Ministry of Physical Planning and Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. After dem beg and beg, officials finally come inspect di area, and contractor come start work for January 2025.
But di work wey dem do no correct at all. Dem dig trench but make gutter only for one side, no touch di area wey flood dey pass. Dem even destroy residents driveway and tell dem make dem repair am demself. Since dat time, contractors no show face again for site.
For di site, PUNCH Metro see one storey building wey water don dey swallow small-small, plus carpentry workshop wey contractors abandon with dia tools. Fowora show car wey trap inside im compound because of open trench wey dem dig for front of im house.
Another resident, Wale Akintola, talk say because driveway spoil, residents dey park dia motor for street, and thieves dey steal battery, alternator and other parts. Dem dey beg Lagos State government to force contractors to come back finish di drainage work.
Olu Isijola, another resident, talk say government don neglect Ajao Estate for long time, even though di area dey close to airport and get plenty hotels and schools. “Dis place suppose be example, but nothing dey work. Drainage matter never solve since,” Isijola talk.
When PUNCH Metro contact Ministry of Environment spokesperson, Adekunle Adeshina, im talk say na government engineers dey decide how to do projects, no be residents. Im promise to get details from di director in charge, but as of Sunday evening wey dis report dey write, Adeshina no revert back.
Di flooding problem for Ajao Estate show how infrastructure challenges dey affect Lagos residents, especially as rainy season dey come. Residents dey wait see if government go take action to complete di drainage project and save dem from more flood disaster.
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