Some residents of Ganyingbo and Gbaji-Yeketome communities in the Badagry-West Local Council Development Area of Lagos State on Monday protested indiscriminate dredging in the communities.
The residents carried placards with different inscriptions such as “Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, please save us from indiscriminate dredging, “Enough is enough we don’t want dredgers in our community” and “President Bola Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu save our souls from flooding.”
A community leader in Ganyingbo, Henry Benjamin, said the residents stopped four dredgers from dredging in the community recently.
He said, “This one came pretending that he came to repair something, but suddenly he started dredging. Dredging in this water will result in flooding; we don’t want them in our community. The indiscriminate dredging is dangerous to our lives and property. We don’t want them here in our communities; they are planning to chase us out of this community.
Also, a community leader from Yeketome, Israel Oke, said that activities of the illegal dredgers chased away youths and fishermen from the river.
Mr Oke begged the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come to their rescue by stopping the illegal activity.
In his contribution, Chairman of Badagry Fishermen Association, Sunday Ayedogbon, said that dredging in Yeketome- Ganyingbo communities was illegal.
He said, “I’m sure when the government comes they will educate the people. With their activities, Gbaji Bridge is at risk. This is the only bridge that links Nigeria to the Republic of Benin and many other communities in Badagry.
“Once the bridge is under threat, there is no way for us again. We want the government to consider giving licences to the dredgers. Dredging will result in flooding, if not controlled.’’
The youth chairman in Gbayingbo, Junaid Rufai, said the communities used to experience flooding in October due to dredging.
“We don’t want them in our community, by October, water will start coming to us for some weeks before going back,” he said.
A youth representative, Samson Sowanu, urged the government to stop the dredging for humanity’s sake.
(NAN)
