Flooding: Forum charges Ambode on shoreline protection, infrastructure provisions

As the Lagos State government held its annual consultative forum, at  Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija, Epe last week, participants at the forum called on the state government to make shoreline protetion and infrastructure provisions its priority.

The participants also called on the government to curtail ocean surge, flooding, indiscriminate sandfilling and sand mining, while advising the gorvernment to ensure provision of access roads in the various communities and provision of economic inspired amenities, among others.

Traditional rulers who attended the event asked for more proactive approach to flooding and other environmental malaise.

“Because of the peculiar nature of our area, being a coastal location, we would want the government to take more cognizance of flooding and other environmental challenges that besieged the senatorial district”, they said.

Speaking specifically on the issue of flooding, Adeyemi Alani, who came from Lekki, noted that something urgent must be done to ensure that their landed property and investments are safeguarded.

“We want our governor to hasten the protection of our shoreline, this is to ensure the safety of out landed property and investments”, he said.

Another contributor from Imota, in the Old Ikorodu Local government, Otunba Adeniyi Olusola, asked for the provision of necessary facilities and amenities in the community, in view of the impending relocation of Mile 12 market to the town.

“The mere pronouncement that Mile 12 market is to be relocated to our town, has caused untold migration of people to Imota.

“Currently, people are relocating to our community, without any corresponding amenities, and it would be better that the necessary ones are provided before things would get out of hands,” he said.

Speaking earlier at the event, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Akinyemi Ashade, said the forum was to let the public know what had been done in the first half of 2017 and what is being expected for the remaining half.

Besides, the forum would also affords the community members to let government know their preferences, in term of infrastructure and amenity provisions.

Ashade, while briefing on the update on the half of the year performance of the 2017 budget informed the public of the Government’s plan for the rest of 2017 and the focus areas for 2018

“Overall, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s desire to give Lagos the best is not in doubt, despite the economic condition of the country.

“Though, the resources are not enough to cater for every sector as one would want to, but based on the reality of available resources on which the budget was prepared, we would ensure that every community get attention, which was the essence of the forum”.

He listed most of the projects that took place at the Lagos East Senatorial District, that include Epe, Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki Local government areas, such as the dyalisation of Epe Towhship Road, road rehabilitation across the senatorial district, provision of hospital equipments, renovation of schools, provision of security and fire fighting equipments, among others, stating that the second half of 2017 would witness more activities.

Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr.Abayomi Kadri, while appreciating the supports giving to the administration so far, said it was in recognition of this support that government realise the importance of an inclusive governance, by which the people we have their contributions on what to do for them.

Shedding light on the budget preparation and its actualisation, Ashade classified it into four main pillars, namely: infrastructure development, that consists of power, transportation, urban renewal, construction and rehabilitation, lands and housing and drainages.

The second pillar, according to hin is Sustainable environment, that include water supply, mitigation of climate change, waste water management and so on.

“Whereas, we have Economic development where issues of agriculture, small and medium enterprises and job creation are embedded, while the fourth pillar has to do with Social development”, he said.