Lagos Ogun: Residents say tollgate canal is a death trap, lament govt’s dereliction of duty
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Lagos Ogun: Residents say tollgate canal is a death trap, lament govt’s dereliction of duty
….. report numbers of casualties due to excessive flood from canal
…… make an appeal to Lagos, Ogun State, and the federal government for timely intervention.
By Onome Naomi
The residents of the Ajegunle Ilo and Ilo Otta-Awela communities are calling on the federal and state governments (Lagos and Ogun) to heed the lament of inhabitants in both communities over the destructive floods responsible for the deteriorating state of the canal at the tollgate.
Naomisophyblog reports that the canal has registered a number of casualties including a recent incident involving an identified male as it remains a death trap, especially during the rainy season. Residents expressed displeasure at the negligence of the Lagos and Ogun state governments after a series of registered complaints for over sixteen years without a proffered solution.
Residents directly affected by the deteriorating state of the canal for its widening effect resulting in a near consummation of buildings and a market space around the canal area have solely spent over N30,000,000 to cushion the extent of damages caused and to protect their business area. The residents are appealing that the government should take the issue of the degenerated canal seriously for fear of more casualties, as recorded over the years, which includes school children.
Speaking with the baale of the Ajegunle Ilo tollgate community, Prince Abolaji Adeyemo, he noted that the corpse of a young male was found in the canal as of April 7th, 2025, with no response from the necessary agencies for removal of the corpse even after several calls, which is no longer a new story; he says there are never quick responses for casualties of the tollgate canal incidents. Moreover, he expressed displeasure over the nonchalance of the federal and state governments on the tollgate canal issue and affirmed the canal situation has lingered for too long with no valid response from the government aside from individual contributions to oversee and curb the threat posed by the canal in the past few years.
Prince Abolaji appeals to the federal and state governments to create a swift response to avoid the loss of more lives; he says the link bridge between Lagos and Ogun State is weak due to excessive flooding. The frantic effort made by the community of Ajegunle Ilo has not yielded results so far; previously, the commissioner for works and other government agencies had visited the scene to assess the canal situation, eliciting false hopes for residents, he said.
A former resident of Ajegunle Ilo Mr Shehu Lawal noted that as an adult, he nurtured fear over his continued stay in the canal community, hence his relocation to a safer environment. Express pity for school children who must cross over from the Ogun State part of the community through the canal to their schools in Lagos, causing many to stay back or stay trapped at a location anytime it rains to avoid drowning incidents. He says it is unfortunate that for many years the government has yet to find solutions to their canal issues that have turned into a death trap for many; he reveals accidents at the tollgate canal happen almost every week, claiming lives.
Mr. Rufus Ejimakinde, the CDA chairman of the Peace Land community Ado-Odo Ilo Otta-Awela Ogun state added that previously, the tractor operators meant to work on the canal as instructed by the LASG only worked for 19 days with unnoticeable repairs in sight. When asked why the canal project had only lasted for 19 days, he was told there must be a reapplication before the tractor operators could continue work on the canal, an outrageous response! he quipped.
He further stated that the community had made some concrete slabs to enable safe passage but was yanked off by the tractor operators responsible for the canal project without creating alternatives before operation was halted. He mentioned that at the federal level, Senator Yayi has been reached by stakeholders of the community to solicit help and assistance over the tollgate canal menace and is awaiting a response.
Ahmed Ololade, a butcher, reported that, for over 16 years of selling around the tollgate area, incidents caused by the damaged canal happen almost every week, as witnessed. He says the most insensitive action of all is the delay posed by the relevant authorities in evacuating corpses from the canal after several notices have been sent; this, he says, is not healthy considering that butchers sell meat for consumption. Also, he said meat sellers have spent almost N4,000,000 to create barricades away from the canal to keep prospective customers safe around their business premises. Appealed to the government for support.
Mrs. Dosunmu, the current CDA chairperson of the Ajegunle Ilo community, noted that the canal situation has lingered for too long and the LGA chairman for Agbado-Okeodo is aware of the situation. The Ministry of Works and other relevant governmental bodies in charge of works have visited, yet no result. Meanwhile, the CDA executives have met with the local government chairman, a member of the House of Representatives for Agbado Okeodo, during the last stakeholders meeting but were told the community must seek a new approval for the commencement of repairs at the canal. She says the previous repairs were done halfway and yet ruined; express fear over the safety of schoolchildren when rain begins.
A hotel manager, namely Richard Odakon, stated that the widening of the canal is beginning to affect their hotel premises, leading to N26,000,000 worth of construction, which serves as a temporary solution, carried out by his boss to avoid a building collapse. He said the fear expressed by customers who’ve seen how the canal poses a threat to the hotel building might lead to a reduction in patronage; hence the need to apply measures that have cost millions of naira. He says the canal over time has recorded occurrences such as full loads of truck accidents, slipping, falling, and drowning; school children accidents; and others. Appeal to the federal government to take over before the rain begins.
Naomi Sophy Blog’s deduced from resident’s statements that, the Lagos and Ogun state governments are in disagreement over who should bear the financial cost involved in the canal project, hence the delay in repair and loss of more lives and properties.
According to reports, the unidentified male corpse has been left at the canal for more than seven days after the incident and has not been removed by the appropriate authorities as of the time of this report.
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