The Okun-Alfa community in Eti-Osa local government area of Lagos State, has urged the federal and state governments to rescue it from lingering ocean surge, threatening to submerge the entire community.
Mr Adekunle Elegushi, the Community Development Association, CDA, chairman, on Friday, said that the surge had claimed over 70 per cent of its land.
“This community has been in existence for many years. Our land is gradually being submerged.
“In 2009, the former governor of Lagos, Mr Babatunde Fashola tried to fix the problem to stop the surge.
“But the project stopped. No continuity, that’s why other lands have been washed away by the ocean.
“So, we need help to reclaim the land so that the 200 meters that the government wants as a step back will be easy to have if not more, because more than 1,000 meters are already covered by water,” he said.
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Elegushi appealed to the government to rescue the community before it is too late as many residents live in make shift homes due to challenges of the surge.
“In fact many people staying here live in emergency homes, because all their buildings have been submerged by the surge.
“And now that they don’t have money to buy land and build new homes, they are seeking for ways to survive and to get shelter.
“That’s why you see all the plank houses but we are trying to resurface it by building new modern houses to befit the ongoing Lagos-Calabar coastal road project,” he said.
The community leader appealed to the government to channel some of the ecological funds to the community to rescue residents from the predicament.
He added that the government could help by making the community habitable and revive it the way they are doing with the Atlantic City project.
“We appeal to President Bola Tinubu, to come to our rescue. We also appreciate Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who had been there for us but we all know that this project is beyond the state’s capacity.
“It’s a federal government project, that’s why we are appealing to them to come to our aid and see how they can help our ancient community.
“This community had been in existence for many decades, if you go to the federal and state map, you will see it there, so we are not illegal immigrants,” he added.
Source: NAN
