Written by Kunle Awosiyan, Lagos Sunday, 22 May 2011
Residents of Atobaje community in Agege, Lagos State, have been living in fear over a canal that has claimed the lives of many of them in the recent time.
No fewer than five people were drowned in the canal, which meanders through the popular Total petrol station, Agege Pen Cinema to Oke-Koto in Atobaje area of the community in the last six months.
Community News learnt that three residents of the community lost their lives between October and November, 2011, while another one was found floating in the canal recently.
At present, one of the victims of the canal, Mrs. Aishat Rasaki, had just returned from the hospital where she had been receiving treatment after she broke her leg in the canal.
Most traders along the canal had since fled due to foul odour in the area, while the state government had failed to find solution to the problem.
Investigation revealed that the contract for the rehabilitation of the canal was awarded to the late monarch of Agege, Oba Atanda Adams, but that he could not do anything to rebuild the canal until his death.
It was also learnt that the project was being sponsored by the World Bank (WB) but that about three contractors had worked there and eventually abandoned it due to paucity of fund.
Speaking with Community News, Rasaki said that she sustained the injury about three months ago while coming from a shop located around the canal.
She stated, “I fell into the canal and got my leg broken. I was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately, the doctor said that I had fracture. He eventually put Plaster of Paris (POP). I was in the hospital for months before I came home.”
In his comment to Community News, a resident, Mr Mukaila Rabiu, stated that the economic activities had been paralysed due to the looming epidemic in the area, adding that the canal contained decayed body of both human being and animals.
According to him, residents who are tenants in the area have refused to renew their rent because of the foul odour that oozed out of the canal. “For those of us who are landlords, there is nowhere to run to. Our tenants are leaving, while no one is ready to rent the abandoned vacant rooms,” he said.
tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/community-news/3933-fear-in-atobaje-over-deadly-canal-