Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday explained why his administration is demolishing the Makoko fishing community, Lagos Mainland.He said it was necessary to halt the continuous expansion of the community into the lagoons with its negative impact on the environment.
Addressing scores of Makoko residents who came to the Lagos House, Ikeja to appeal for a reconsideration of the decision to demolish parts of the fishing community, Fashola explained that while the government was finding a solution for residents within the recognised boundaries, it would not allow further expansion of the community.
Fashola said sequel to several meetings with leaders of the community and an agreed boundary set, the government had been working in the area to find solution to the difficulties, which the indigenous residents encounter by providing basic infrastructure and amenities to uplift the standard of life of the people who, according to him, have been there for a long time.
The governor explained that rather than maintain the established boundary, what had happened over the years was a rash of illegal shanties which expanded towards the Third Mainland Bridge and underneath the high tension electricity cables across the area.
Expressing the readiness of his administration to meet with genuine representatives of the community, Fashola advised them to be wary of people who are profiting from their difficult situation. He advised the community to resist being used by people who want to take advantage of them.
The governor noted that piling saw dust on the lagoon, discharging wastes in it and blocking the discharge points for storm water had contributed to the flooding in places like Bariga, Shomolu, Ebute-Metta, Ogudu, Owode, Ajegunle and Ikorodu, among others.
He said: ”The truth must be told; some people are benefiting from your difficulty and that is the truth. They are taking advantage of you in the guise of being your friends. They are taking all sorts of grants purporting to help you but it never gets to you. But as your government, we understand the challenges you face there and we are working to solve them.”
The governor, who said the primary concern of his administration is to uplift the standard of living of the indigenous members of the community, which has existed for over 60 years, said: “Now, as we are finding solution to the boundaries we recognise, we will not allow further expansion”.
He said: “We owe you a duty, but we also owe the greater part of Lagos a duty. That lagoon is the only lagoon where we drain water during rainy season from Akoka, Bariga, Shomolu, Oworonsoki and from Macgregor Canal. The lagoon is shrinking because they are expanding and building into it; it has to stop.”
Fashola said the way forward was for the leaders of the community to team up and meet the government to find a lasting solution to the problem adding that he is working with people within and outside the country to find a way to expose the community as part of the culture of Lagos, where the indigenous people could live in a clean environment with clean drinking water and other basic amenities while they also engage in their fishing occupation.
He said the doors of the government were open at all times and that he would welcome such a team as appointed by the community to find lasting solution to the problem adding that the community’s peaceful approach would lead to much more progress.
According to him, "as your government we understand what challenges we face there and we are working in all of the communities that you represent. We know what your mainstay and occupation is fishing, I have had meetings with you and the people of Okobaba, at least 3 meetings.
"The people of Okobaba have said they are ready to move and we are working on their relocation, we are working on the houses that we are building for them in Agbowa. Some of you said you wanted to stay, that is how I understood that some of you actually bring the logs, cut the logs, some people sell the logs, and it's an industry.
Fashola said: “We are working to provide water, schools, libraries and so on for you. But those who have just come must leave. That is the reality.”
Describing the decision to stop the illegal expansion by the new comers as “very, very difficult”, the governor said the chances of the Government are limited adding that if the place must be sustainable to accommodate the indigenous people and other interests, the continuous expansion has to stop.
He added: “We have land in other parts of the state that are close to water, so if communities want to apply for land, we will give them land; but you cannot build on the lagoon” adding, “That is the natural drainage that God has given us and we have to preserve it. The only issue was the expansion of the community and the time to define the boundary is now.”
Noting that various groups and individuals have diverse interests such as sensationalising the issue and making it a human rights issue, Fashola said the only real issue that is in the interest of the indigenous community and the government was to ensure that the people of Lagos co-habit together and find solution to the common problem in order to get on with their lives.
Fashola apologised for the loss of life during the clearing exercise, describing it as regrettable and promised that the government would investigate the circumstance under which it happened. He, however, added that it was the duty of government to protect the ecosystem, to protect the environment and, more importantly to protect the life of the people.
He said: “I am really sorry about the loss of one of you during the course of this incident because in the process of doing our job, we ought to also protect lives and properties and ensure that no life is lost while we do our work.
“I regret that such has happened and we would investigate the circumstances to which it happened. You must look more to your government than to any other person, we do not act in those areas for our own benefit, and we act for the benefit of the community at large.”
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