Residents of Ainab and Felix Elema Streets, off Upper Adesuwa road at Government Reservation Area in Benin City have petitioned Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP over bad drainage system that seemly worsen erosion flooding in the area.
Residents said flooding have completely taken over the whole area following alleged faulty drainage project carried out.
Residents said they wade through the flooding in order to go in and out from their houses.
A resident of the area who made a video during rainfall, said the construction company said to be Hartland Construction Company had channeled all the drainages around the area into their streets, and all the water connected have turned the area into a giant pond.
“This is our experience in this area. They brought their drainage from far away, to channel water coming from many streets to us. This is a small rain, rain that fell for two hours, but very light rail, and yet, we are swallowed up everywhere. We are swallowed up with water.
“With their drainage system not even covered, and that puts residents in this area more at risk, because any person can fall into their drainage with this flood that has covered everywhere.
“They have left us worse than we were before. It would have been better they never made any attempt to come to this neighborhood. This is what we are experiencing – threat to property, threat to life, opening up a drainage system against residents and channeling water from far away into our homes.”
The resident said that although the area is prone to flood, the construction work has aggravated the challenge:
“They fixed drainage systems to channel water from the adjoining streets – Akhionbare, Oni, Jemide, Giwa Amu to Ainabe, closed a permanent pond to receive the channeled water, turning the whole area into an ocean.
“Ainabe is the most hit because it’s the lowest level as well a close.
“They put a temporary pond beside my fence and the stagnant water has been sipping down, weakening the foundation of my house. This had been on since 4th June, 2021, and the foundation of my house has been compromised with the flood making it risky for my family and I to continue to live there “.
In June 2020, some residents had carried out a protest against NEWMAP and Hartland. Having seen the unprofessional work they were doing, the residents had envisag
They chanted ‘No more work, enough is enough. Dr Tom Obaseki should come out and tell us what is happening. We need our money. We needs our money. Stop the deceit’.
A resident who spoke at the protest told newsmen “This place, they begged us to allow them to work, and we allowed them, for two years. They came and destroyed everywhere, and keep telling us they are going to pay. The man took money and collected a huge interest, to the detriment of the citizens. So we are here today with the Enogies, with the people and we are saying that the work will not continue. If they want to continue the work, then let them try us today.
Another resident, Pastor Osaze Omoruyi said “This protest has no political undertone. The rains are here again. It is very important for the world to hear this, that for the past three years, we have attended a series of meetings, to the extent that some persons who started these meetings with us are dead. I can name three persons that are dead and no more with us today. Dr Tom Obaseki came to meet us the last time, promising heaven and earth. But it is also important to let the world know that we know how Workd Bank operates. World Bank will not tear down people’s property without first paying. World Bank will not take over people’s lands without first paying. So we wnat answers from Dr Tom Obaseki. We no longer know what is happening, we no longer know what is going on.
That is why we have come out today en masse to ask Dr Tom Obaseki, the project coordinator of NEWMAP what is really going on, and to pay the persons and communities that are affected. Lands have been taken, and peoples properties have been demolished.
We are not in a banana republic, it is very important for us to also state that we are not here representing any political interests. So we wnat answers, we want accountability, we way transparency.
“We have been on this issue long enough. We have begged, we have pleaded, we have explored every reasonable avenue, to demand for what us rightfully ours. In October 2019, he came and said please we should allow him to work. Beginning from Pond 6, they began to destroy properties, go to Pond 5 and 6, they have destroyed so much properties. They are now in Pond 4, moving to other ponds. In one particular instance, one of the property owners that resisted was reported to Government House.
A resident, who spoke to our news men from Canada, Chief Patrick Eholor called on Governor Godwin Obaseki to pay some attention on the problem the residents are facing;
“We should leave politics aside as government should she sympathy and empathy. The Governor should visit the people and see the reality on ground. There is hunger, there is sickness, there is distress. What the residents are passing through is causing all kinds of diseases that we can prevent.
“Those who are watching today are in comfort, but it can also happen to them tomorrow. I am in Canada, it does not affect me, but they are my people. Politics time is over, let government work for the people.
“The Governor should show his human side. He is too stiff. He is nonchalant, there are children and women who live in that area.”
@views exclusive rights: Jungle Journalist Online Media, August 6, 2021.
- House Help Sentenced To Death For Killing 89-Year-Old Madam, DaughterLagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja Area has sentenced to death by hanging, a domestic staff, Joseph Ogbu, for … Read More “House Help Sentenced To Death For Killing 89-Year-Old Madam, Daughter” »
- Life Not That Bad In Nigeria – Reno OmokriBy Reno Omokri People died from a mass shooting in America 2 days ago. You don’t see Americans saying ‘America … Read More “Life Not That Bad In Nigeria – Reno Omokri” »
- Crude Oil Discovery In Nasarawa State Will Lead Nigeria To Greater Prosperity – BuhariBy Femi Adesina President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday declared that the discovery and drilling of oil in Nasarawa State will … Read More “Crude Oil Discovery In Nasarawa State Will Lead Nigeria To Greater Prosperity – Buhari” »
- Ramadan: Kano Bans ‘Keke’, Illegal Horse Riding, FireworksBy Abdullahi Kiyawa Kano State Police Command under the leadership of CP Mamman Dauda, congratulates the Muslim Umma for witnessing … Read More “Ramadan: Kano Bans ‘Keke’, Illegal Horse Riding, Fireworks” »
- Nnamdi Kanu: We Rescued Kamsi From Kidnappers – PoliceBy Daniel Ndukwe Police Operatives serving in Nsukka Area Command of Enugu State Police Command, acting on credible information and … Read More “Nnamdi Kanu: We Rescued Kamsi From Kidnappers – Police” »
[spreaker type=player resource=”show_id=4980924″ width=”720px” height=”600px” theme=”light” playlist=”show” playlist-continuous=”true” chapters-image=”true” episode-image-position=”right” hide-logo=”false” hide-likes=”false” hide-comments=”false” hide-sharing=”false” hide-download=”true”]
