Decaying Macgregor of Obalende
by Oki Samson
macgregorcanal
As part of follow up to an earlier report concerning the Macgregor canal, New Telegraph recently discovered that Lagos State Government is ready to improve on the aesthetics of the environment going by a massive billboard placed in the corner, which reads ‘LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF SPACES UNDER FLYOVERS IN LAGOS (OBALENDE LAGOS); SUPERVISING MINISTRY: MINISTRY OF HOUSING; DURATION: 12 WEEKS’.
It would be recalled that the entire surroundings of the Macgregor canal, flyover, walkways, and the greens were in a state of disorderliness. However, the situation has not improved. In fact, it is worse. Hundreds of vehicle tyres are found abandoned right inside the drainage. There is a big dump site, the part of the bridge that was apparently clean is now littered with refuse and human waste. The road has been reduced to a single lane for motorists as business goes on uncontrolled beside the road and the walkways.
New Telegraph noticed men urinating openly in the canal and when others, perhaps outsiders want to do same, people who claim to be task force accost them and in the process, extort money from them. Ironically, the presence of KAI office in the area does not seem to have a difference; some people have even accused the officials of taking bribe and extortion from unsuspecting members of the public. Right in front of the KAI office are many traders selling second hand clothes. At the back of the office are used tyres stacked unnecessarily. Yet, the officials declined to comment on the matter when New Telegraph visited their office, claiming that they cannot talk and referred the correspondent to the head office at Oshodi.
Emeka Cyril, a trader said the idea of the garden by the state government is very good as it will make the area beautiful. It is disappointing to note that the dirt is not only under the bridge but also around the Dolphin estate area since the canal links there too.
He said: “The KAI are using the bridge to extort people. They will not wear uniform and once you join people urinating there, they will challenge you and take money from you. Lagos State government needs to get brand new people into this place. These set of KAI officials here are compromised.”
Queen Obong, a commuter, noted that the development is a nice concept for Lagos. “For most people working on the Island and pass through Obalende, it will be a pleasant sight to behold and it will reduce the odour. Also, touts should not be allowed to sleep there any longer,” she said.
Another trader simply called Tony said it is a good idea if government implements it and that he would be happy if government could build low cost shops and relocate them because the odour is not good to their body system. “Many will not know the impact until they are old. If government could build fence or strong barbwire to guard people from intruding the garden, it will be good. You can see that the net in the old garden is already broken and the grasses have turned brown because people step on it and urinate on it sometime,” he said.
When contacted on the issue, the Sole Administrator of Ikoyi Obalende’LCDA , did not comment on the matter, while the member representing the LCDA in the Lagos House of Assembly claimed that he was not aware of the development. Even the Public Affairs department of the Ministry of Housing said they were not aware of the project and that they are hearing about it for the first time while the Commissioner was said to be out of the country.
