Lagos Canals: Residents Complain Over Government Neglect

In commemoration of the World Clean up Day, which is celebrated September 15, the largest cleanup exercise in the world with over 190 countries making an effort for awareness of the dangers of waste pollution.

   Junior Chamber International, Lagos City chapter led by its President, Toyin Olaogun alongside other members of the organization with the LetsdoitNigeria November embarked on a clean-up exercise stakeholders meeting at the Akobi Cresent canal located in surulere, Lagos to ascertain the root cause. It was gathered that the canal in the area had turned out to be a major dumpsite as residents deemed it a threat to human health.

   The initiative, which received the collaboration of the international environmental utility firm, Visionscape was organised in collaboration with Access bank, Taxify, ACT Foundation with the aim of ensuring a cleaner Lagos and also the collection of plastic waste for recycling.

   Speaking at the meeting, Fashoro CDA Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Williams appealed to the government to rise to the situation, as residents could no longer endure the difficulties caused by the canal in the community, adding that the continuous existence of the canal is a danger to health.

    He said, “The canal is a death trap. We cannot stay outside in the evening to get fresh air because of the mosquitoes that the canal breeds. Businesses are not moving here and many residents and traders have relocated.”

   “We clean up the canal by ourselves. We haven’t seen any government presence here concerning this issue,” He said.

  Residents in the environment also expressed their helplessness over the incessant air pollution within the community.

   According to Fashoro community youth leader Nkenachor Christopher, It is very critical to state that most individuals in this area also misuse the canal here; and the government really needs to come in here to enforce discipline in this area.

   'The canal here is now filled with wastes, human feces and no one is bold enough to call any one to question and there are kids playing around,'' he said. 

   The residents however, called on the Lagos state government to rescue them from the impending hazards.