There is need for the intervention of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to wade into the controversy surrounding the illegal allocation of a set back in Oregun area of the state to a mechanic group which has put the lives of residents of the area in danger, reports thegazellenews.com.
Residents of Ibijoke and Olasumbo Community Development Association have taken the state Governor to task over the impunity attitude of officials of the state Ministries of Transportation and Environment.
The bone of contention is the illegal allocation of a canal setback in the area to a group of mechanics by officials of the state government which is against the enacted law of the state.
The canal is located at the end of Ibijoke and Olasimbo areas of Oregun, in Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area of Ikeja Local Government in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
While observers who spoke with thegazellenews.com acknowledged the right of the state government to clear the canal and preserve the setback, they were surprised that some government officials have gone ahead to allocate the said set back to a group of mechanics to serve as their workshop.
“It should not be so, if the government is clearing the canal to preserve the setback we understand that, allocating it to mechanics is illegal and against the law,” Ademola Omogbolahan, a human right activist told our correspondent.
When thegazellenews.com visited the area on Sunday, 10 March, 2024, the canal area has been cleared.
A barricade erected at the setback by residents had been removed by officials of the state government.
Our correspondent learnt that the barricade was put in place by the residents to prevent violent crimes being used by criminals who make use of the canal as their escape route.
“The canal has become an haven for criminals and their nefarious activities. Crimes such as: robbery, housebreaking, kidnapping, vandalism and cultism have become the order of the day with the canal providing a ready made getaway for perpetrators.
“The climax of these criminal activities was the attempt to kidnap two children in November, 2023 but eagle-eyed residents prevented this from happening and succeeded in arresting the two kidnappers.
“It was the last straw for us hence the decision to erect a barricade over the canal.
“Now that the barricade has been removed by the state government, we’re back to square one as we fear that the criminals will make a return and this time, they will be daring and more dangerous,” Mr Ilechukwu Uche, a resident of Ibijoke Street told our correspondent.
The implications of the impunitive actions of the state government officials by removing the barricade and allocating the setback to mechanics are many.
In the first instance, the decision to allocate the set back to the mechanics contravenes the law of the state.
This medium discovered that the provision of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017 made the action of the state government officials null and void.
Section 118 (1) of the Law states:
“Notwithstanding any permit given under any law, a person shall not: (a) Construct or put any structure on drainage alignment, sewers, rail tracks, footpaths on the required road or setbacks (b) use any road, street or other setbacks as a mechanic workshop or motor park.
These are the provisions of the law, but officials of the state government have disregard these laws and go ahead to allocate the setback to serve as mechanic village.
“This is not only impunitive but also illegal. One wonders why officials of the state government will be the one breaking the laws of the state,” another resident who prefers anonymity told thegazellenews.com
Another implication of this action is blocking of the drainage which would disrupt free flow of rainwater which will to property damage, health hazards for residents among others.
Yet another implication is exposing the residents to danger of nefarious activities of criminals. This is because the barricade that has been blocking their entrance into the community has been removed.
“Before the barricade was constructed, we were not sleeping with our eyes closed due to the activities of criminals. They make use to the canal as their escape route. Two children were nearly kidnapped in November, 2023 but for the eagle-eyed residents who apprehended the kidnappers.
“After we constructed the barricade, we’ve been sleeping with our eyes closed because criminal activities have been reduced to the barest minimum. Now that the barricade has been removed, we’re now exposed to more danger and I fear that the criminals may become more daring now,” Adeyemi Olayemi, a resident of Olasimbo street told our correspondent.
“Since the erection of the barricade, we’ve been sleeping with our two eyes closed. There has been huge relief from criminal activities we suffered when there was no barricade,” Mrs Cecilia Adekunle, another resident of the area told our correspondent when thegazellenews.com visited the area during the week.
Another resident berated the state government over the removal of the barricade and the allocation of the setback to mechanics. “This is a government that’s supposed to protect us now exposing us to danger. Is this not a sad irony? Why remove the barricade? Why allocate land to mechanics to serve as mechanic village? In a residential area? I’ve not heard of such before. Lagos State government officials are acting as if nobody can query them, but they will eventually have God to deal with. This is impunitive and unconstitutional. It’s a shame that they’re braking their own law. Let’s see what Sanwo-Olu will do on this,” the resident lamented.
Some residents are even alleging discrimination against the state government, wondering why they will allocate setback in their community to mechanics.
“Is it because we live in Oregun? Will they do that to residents of Ikoyi, Lekki, Banana Island and Osborne? They won’t do that. They’re clearing canals and removing structures blocking drainages in those areas and no setbacks have been allocated to people not to talk of making such mechanic village.
“They’re saying we’re second class citizens in Lagos,” Abdullahi Omolase who resides in Ibijoke Street told our correspondent.
The residents under the umbrella of Ibijoke and Olasimbo Community Development Association (CDA) have taking their matter to the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Their lawyer, Remi Olowolabi and Co, forwarded a petition to the Governor on the matter. The petition, dated Wednesday, 21 February, 2024, was received and acknowledged at the Chief of Staff office on Thursday, 22 February, 2024.
As at the time of writing this report, there has not been any official reaction from the Governor or any of his officials.
“They’re treating us with disdain and indifference. This is highly disgusting. It was even after the lawyer submitted the petition that they came to remove the barricade,” a member of the CDA told our correspondent.
When thegazellenews.com sought the reaction of the government officials of the ministries involved, we got mixed responses.
At the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, an official spoke our correspondent off camera. He acknowledged that officials of the ministry removed the barricade.
“It was part of our efforts at ensuring that all canals are free of impeding structures to make free flow of water possible during rainfall. So removing the barricade is part of making the canal setback free,” the official told thegazellenews.com.
He was however quick to tell us that he was not aware of the setback being allocated to mechanics.
At the Ministry of Transportation, mum was the response as none was willing to talk to us.
Meanwhile, the residents are still waiting for the response from the state government on the petition sent to the Governor on the matter.
Will the Governor allow this act of illegality and unconstitutionality reign? Lagosians are waiting for his reaction.
