The many colours of
illegality in Ojo LGA
By Ogbuefi Ray, Lagos
Saturday, December 15, 2007
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•Construction
site
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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We have observed somewhere that it takes a lot of effort
and dexterity to perfect illegality. By the time you push
the first illegal act, you must be properly equipped to execute
other illegalities, so as to sustain the original illegality.
What this means is that if you have not been carved out for
the role of illegal execution, every efforts you make comes
out with rough edges.
This is the very situation into which some illegal act professionals
have been pushing the Head of affairs at Ojo Local Government
of Lagos state. It is also instructive that a man, in such
a position would lend himself to this push.
It is more important to govern the people than winning the
election. Apparently, during the pomp and pageantry, the tumult
and the shouting of sweeping the polls which venue ushered
in Raji Fashola on May 29th, 2007, and the appointment of
Local Government heads, it must have been convenient to assume
that all was well in the local council areas. But as soon
as the bands were gone and lights were dimmed, the reality
of the situation began to unfold.
How does one explain the ongoing construction work of the
block of shops on the canal at the entry point of Alaba International
Market by the management of Ojo local council. After all,
the same local government authority had earlier sold every
available space in the market to the traders including parking
space, they now want to block the canal by building on it,
just because of money. I see a looming disaster where erosion
will soon ravage the Alaba International Market which is one
of the economic nerve centre of Lagos and Nigeria’s
economic capital.
Petitions have been written and desperate phone calls have
also been made to the relevant authorities from people to
remind the council boss and his team, of the dangerous consequences
what they are doing and what erosion would ravage the market
by the next rainy season if they continue to build and block
the canal. What should he do? As expected, he has continued
to ignore the numerous petitions from people and has gone
ahead with the construction of shops on the canal.
However, in other to forstall further agitation and any attack
by the aggrieved Alaba traders, hoodlums numbering about 50
are sent on daily basis to the site to guide the workers.
This decision has since become the albatross of the Ojo Local
Government and has further made nonsense of environmental
laws of which the past administration and even, the Fashola
administration also claim to combat erosion problems ravaging
Marine shoreline and other parts of the state.
There is no doubt, that until we experience a national grief,
this illegal structure may not be demolished. One wonders
that is it until disaster strikes before we learn or take
appropriate measures. Must we wait till the next rainy season
for the erosion to force people out of business with its attendant
crisis and severe hardship on the traders caused by mass flooding
in the International market? But to them at Ojo Local Government,
it is better to disobey environment laws and indulge in illegality
as long as the money comes in?
Already, traders are expressing fears that the 1980 Ibadan,
Ogunpa flood disaster, may be a child’s play in comparism
to what will happen here, if the Lagos State Ministry of Environment
does not act fast to arrest the situation. It would be most
unwise to dismiss the Alaba canal illegal structure issue
with a mere wave of the hand.
Of course, one thing is to make complain, but it is a different
kettle of fish for the authorities concerned to listen to
your complaint. And at what speed does your compliant receive
attention? Alaba International market must not be washed away
before solution is proffered. As a matter of urgency, Lagos
State government, should quickly stop the construction work
and equally demolish the structure which, when built not allow
normal free flow of water at the canal.
I still remember the ordeal that I went through in the hands
of hoodlums and area boys stationed around the construction
site. They were instructed to deal with anyone who interfered
with their activities at the site. After my visit to see the
illegal construction site I decided to risk writing about
this serious issue and even took a seemingly higher risk of
taking photograph of the work in progress to further illustrate
my story.
Expectedly, I was nabbed and my camera seized by the ever
vigilant hemp smoking area boys. I was later freed and got
my camera back but not without a fee. I paid the sum of N4,000.
Indeed, one does not need to engage the services of a soothsayer
or a babalawo to know that disaster is looming. The blind
man can even see it. Whenever I cross the bridge and turn
left to view the site, I see it as one of the many colours
of illegality.
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