| SAD TALE
• Residents of Aboru, a Lagos suburb,
cry out over govt neglect
By TESSY OKOYE
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
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A
big canal at Aboru
• PHOTO: Sun News Publishing
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Aboru, a community tucked away from the boisterous activities
of Lagos, presents a pathetic picture of a vibrant neighbourhood
almost made desolate by nature and neglect. As you stroll
about the community that lies between Abesan and Mosun, Iyana-Ipaja
area of the state, you see the raw beauty of nature. But that
scenery immediately disappears, like mist in sunlight, when
you consider certain environmental factors.
This community is almost an inch away from civilization as
it lacks basic amenities, such as good roads, hospitals, markets
and a police station.
The problems in the community begin to manifest as you enter
Aboru from the Abeokuta Expressway. The short, bumpy ride
leaves your body in pains. Immediately after veering off the
tarred road from Pleasure Bus Stop, a motorist would only
enjoy some minutes of comfort before he or she hit the rough
terrain. The road has been rendered almost impassable by erosion.
Gaping holes and craters have become permanent features on
the only accessible road in the community. At the moment,
other secondary roads at Aboru are non existent.
Gradually dealing a deadly blow on the community is a widening
canal with murky waters flowing from Ejigbo, Idimu, and Egbeda
to Odo Iya-alaro, where it empties into the Lagos Lagoon.
Apart from the offensive odour that oozes from the channel,
it is regarded a harbinger of evil because of lives that it
has claimed in the past. The deep canal, which snakes through
the community, is almost concealed by thick shrubs and thicket.
For the residents of the sleepy suburb, the world has abandoned
them to their fate and they would readily regale any visitor
with tales of woes and anguish.
Alhaji Hassan Onilekere’s house, at Aboru, is currently
under threat of collapse, its foundation is already exposed
to the canal erosion. He disclosed that residents have resorted
to communal efforts to save their community from being swept
away. He said despite building barriers to reduce the speed
of water flowing into the channel, residents still flee their
homes at the slightest sign of rain.
"The sloppiness of the area makes it prone to flood from
higher areas as water tends to flow, pushing everything in
its path into the canal. The rainy season is our worst enemy.
Apart from fear of flood, we are scared of being swept into
the waterway," he lamented.
He was said to be even lucky. Tope Ayoade has not been that
fortunate in her family house, though she has always escaped
with members of her family during the frequent flooing of
the area. She disclosed that since her home is closer to the
water channel, she had lost everything and even the house
before others had an inkling of what was happening. She, however,
pleaded with the state government to expedite action on dredging
of the canal to rid it of silt.
Lack of access road and a seeming exclusion from the Lagos
map are not the only threats facing the quiet community. Almost
cut off from other parts of the state by the absence of a
functional road, the only bridge linking it with the outside
world is wooden hastily put together across the canal by an
individual in the community. A walk or ride on it is not free
though. Commuters on the wooden contraption have to cough
N20 toll per trip, regardless of the number of times the short
journey is made. The money, Daily Sun learnt,
is for constant maintenance of the ‘bridge’.
According to Prince Olabanji Orioye, the man, who constructed
the link, the wooden bridge was first erected in 2005 after
the access road became impassable, no thanks to erosion. He
disclosed that the bridge, which serves as a short cut to
other areas, plays a significant role during fuel scarcity
and other civil disturbances.
"People rely more on this passage. School children benefit
more from this bridge than anybody. The money realized here
is barely enough to keep this bridge in good shape. In the
rainy season, the bridge is submerged and becomes too dangerous
for people, especially children to pass. At such a time, I
would go into the swamp to raise the bridge above water level.
The selfless service I am rendering here does not, in any
way, alleviate the suffering of residents. Government should
do something more for its citizens," he pleaded.
More saddened by the state of the community is the Baale of
Aboru, Salaudeen Bamgbopa Akinde Aboru, a man whose gait is
bent, owing to worries on the plight of his community than
age. With a forlorn look and a wrinkled brow, the community
head told Daily Sun that his heart bleeds
everyday for the community’s continued neglect. The
traditional ruler, who is in his late 70s was also irked by
the fact that there is no market that serves the area.
"People go as far as Iyana-Ipaja to buy food seasonings
and other smaller food items. It is unfortunate that my people
are made to suffer this way. These are things that should
ordinarily be sourced in a market within the area. Must I
sacrifice my life before the state government would fulfil
its responsibility to us?" He asks rhetorically, even
as he blames the community’s problem on covetous people.
His words: "For 22 years, we had a flourishing market
patronized by people from far and near. But that market is
no more. After it was destroyed because it was too close to
the pipeline, we could not replace the structures. We are
aware that democracy is meant to usher in infrastructural
change, but Aboru is yet to witness any.
"When Governor Raji Fashola was going round the state
on inspection, providence made him pass through this area.
He saw our plight and promised to do something about it. At
the end of the day, he gave approval for the construction
of roads and drainage but Aboru was excluded."
Raising alarm over the danger posed by the canal during rainy
season, the Baale says: "We have lost people, swept into
the canal when it rains. My palace usually serves as a temporary
shelter for people who are scared of being swept away by strong
current. The community, on its part, has tried. My only prayer
is that God should touch the heart of the state government
to save us from being washed away one day."
Sitting close to the traditional ruler all the while was his
wife, who immediately launched into a tale of how the community
has been marginalized.
"We are the first set of market women in Lagos State,"
she boasted, adding: "We had our market before Ketu market
came into existence. When Iya Mogaji was installed as the
Iyaloja of Lagos State, we were the ones who danced for her.
I don’t see why we should be left to suffer this way."
Decrying the situation of things in the area, she says the
only government hospital the community can lay claim to was
an infirmary that cannot pass for a road side store.
"There are no drugs or medical personnel in the place.
How long are we going to live like slaves in a country where
we pay tax and tenement rates? I believe we deserve a better
life."
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