The Coalition for Good Governance in Lagos has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu not to rescind the state government’s decision to clear buildings under high tension wire in Makoko, to ensure safety of lives and property.
Convener and Coordinator of the Coalition, which comprises of over eighty Civil Society Organisations, Comrade Nelson Ekujumi, made the call on Wednesday at a news conference in Ikeja.
Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, Comrade Ekujumi demanded an immediate action to ensure the implementation of the government urban development programme for Makoko to avert any avoidable disaster.
He called for sincerity of purpose from all parties in the new arrangements going forward, noting that past engagements seem to have exposed the lack of sincerity, trust and communication gap.
“We are also calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu not to rescind from ensuring the place is cleared immediately as it will be of great advantage to the people of Makoko, Lagos State and Nigerians as a whole if people are evacuated alive than moving thousands of dead bodies if a single string of that high tension power line drops inside the lagoon, God forbid.”
“We are also demanding utmost sincerity from all parties in the new arrangements going forward because past engagements seem to have exposed the lack of sincerity, trust and communication lacuna, which has been exploited for interests other than the good of the people of Makoko in particular and Lagos State in general.”
Comrade Ekujumi expressed concern that the Makoko Waterfront settlement has become a recurring decimal for demolition by successive administration in Lagos over arbitrary springing up of residential and other structures under high tension wires, which he said is unhabitable for human living.
“It’s a fact that successive governments in Lagos State have long labelled Makoko an environmental and security hazard, citing living under high tension power lines, flooding, fire risks and unplanned structures as justification for it’s action. From a regulatory standpoint, these concerns are valid, in order and something ought to be done to correct the observed anomalies.”
“As a result of the need to preserve lives and ensure public safety that have been endangered by the residents serial violations of the officially approved distance of structures from under high tension power lines and others, the Lagos State government entered into series of discussions and dialogue with the community leaders and residents by reaching an agreement to address the anomalies, with the residents willingly submitting to comply, and the state as observer to the compliance with the terms of the agreement.”
The Coalition commended the Lagos Assembly for wading into the issue, and demanded acceleration of committee assignment to forge ahead with the demolition, for safety of lives and property.
“We must commend the Lagos State House of assembly for it’s proactiveness in stepping in to calm frayed nerves by constituting a committee of all parties involved and and ordering an immediate suspension of the demolitions in Makoko.
We are also delighted to note that the state government has promised the enumeration of affected properties and reiterated commitment to handling the situation with a human face for the collective benefit of the society.”
The Lagos State government commenced demolition of structures in Makoko after notices and reneged promises of residents to remove structures on their own.
“As human beings, we commiserate with families who have lost their habitations and means of livelihood as a result of the demolitions to save lives and preserve public safety, but we must not lose sight of the fact, that the government has a responsibility to ensure that its citizens do not engage in actions that amounts to attempts to commit suicide and endanger public safety, as doing otherwise, will be tantamount to the abdication of its primary responsibility which is condemnable.”
Reporting By Abiola PETERS