Yaba blocked drains

The Executive Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Kayode Omiyale has notified landowners that they may have to sacrifice some land for proper drainage work.

Omiyale lamented that stagnant water in blocked drains had become an environmental hazard to residents of the council.

One solution to the problem, he explained, is chanelisation of drainage, adding that this may require some extra land.

The council chief spoke while inspecting blocked drainages at Panti/Omolere Elebiju/Tokunbo Streets. He promised to proffer a permanent solution to the problem.

Omiyale said: “I am deeply concerned about the consequences of the stagnant water in this environment due to the blocked drainages. As a council, we may not be able to solve all the problems because of the huge cost of channelisation, but we will clear the blocked drains and de-silt.

“Apparently that is not the final solution; this water must move freely to the appropriate place. The land owners need to sacrifice part of their land for the channelisation. We will continue this discussion beyond here, we need to involve the drainage department of the Ministry of the Environment.”

A resident, Chief Omolere Elebiju, thanked the chairman for carrying out an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

Afterwards, Omiyale presented cash assistance to several indigent persons in the second series this year of his empowerment programme for the aged and widows.

Eighty aged persons and 20 widows from Ward A benefitted from the exercise.

“We must care for the aged and the widows,” he said, noting that they were once active and productive in the society.

Omiyale added: “Being qualified to be called aged is a privilege, not everybody will grow to be so qualified, we are praying fervently to grow to your level, but it is in the hand of God.”