Atlantic Ocean threatens
Lagos, Ondo communities
By PETER ANOSIKE
Monday,
August 20, 2007
In some communities like Ayetoro in Ondo State and Victoria
Island in Lagos, the fear of the Atlantic Ocean is now the
beginning of wisdom as ocean surge is threatening to sweep
away the two communities.
Ayetoro, the heart beat of oil production in Ondo State, is
on the verge of being swept away after a torrential rainfall
which made the ocean to swell and began to flow into houses
in the area and thereby destroying household equipment.
The community, which is one of the riverine communities in
the Ilaje area of the state, has been partially submerged
in water, displacing hundreds of families from their places
of abode.
Residents, who spoke with Daily Sun attributed the sad event
to heavy downpour even as one contractor alleged to have being
given the contract to construct a bridge across one of the
rivers has refused to do the job.
According to the residents, had a bridge been constructed,
it would have helped the victims in relocating before the
flood hit and destroyed their valuables.
On of the victims, Dapo Folarin, said that they have been
having rainfall in the area but that of this year is extraordinary.
According to him, as fishermen and people living in riverine
area, water is part of them and as such it doesn’t threaten
them.
However, he said that for water to come now and be a threat
to them showed that something is wrong somewhere.
His words: "With what is happening now as regards threat
of water, I feel that something is wrong somewhere. Maybe,
the gods are angry at the world. You can agree with me that
evil is on the increase and the gods have decided to punish
us with water. Even here in Ayetoro, we heard that a contractor
was given money to build a bridge and he ran away with the
money.
That is one of the evils that I am talking about. Why must
somebody collect money for a job he knows that he will not
do?"
Another resident, Ayodele Adeleke, called on the government
of Ondo State to come to their aid by compensating those whose
valuables were destroyed by the flood. He said that as an
oil producing community that they are yet to feel the presence
of Federal Government in their area, adding that all the things
in the community were done through self help effort.
Adeleke wondered if it is only when they resort to kidnapping
and hostage taking that government would know that they are
suffering.
In the same vein, the residents of Victoria Island in Lagos,
especially those living or doing business along Ahmadu Bello
Way are now living in fear as surge from the Atlantic Ocean
is threatening activities and movement.
The water from the Ocean has covered the road and is about
to submerge the liaison offices, banks and residential houses
located along Ahmadu Bello Way.
The flood has displaced petty businessmen and women who are
selling along the Bar beach as well as other businesses in
the area.
This is in spite of the major project being sponsored by the
Lagos State government to curb the ocean surge. |
