• Lagos community overrun by dumpsites, wastes
By Lukman Olabiyi
Sudden emergence of shanties, dumpsites around Shalom Nursery and Primary School, and Cedar College, Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos State, has continued to give residents of the community sleepless nights as they called for government intervention.
The schools whose frontage and sidewalls have been overtaken by illegal shanties and dumpsites are currently subjects of litigation before the State High Court over ownership of the land. The court granted injunction, ordering parties in the suit to maintain status quo pending the determination of the suit.
But despite the court’s order, the state of development around the property has become worrisome for residents of the area who pleaded for the state government’s intervention.
A community leader, Dr. Kolade Ajani, expressed worries over sleepless nights the emergence of shanties and dumpsites are causing the people community. He said it was absurd to allocate portions of the land to people for trading activities when the place was originally school environment and residential area.
He lamented that those who were allegedly involved in allotting the portions to the occupiers of the shanties and dumpsites were not the owners of the properties. He stated that for the security and safety of pupils and the students in the school, and the community at large, government should as a matter of urgency take action to stop the acts of impunity going on in the area.
He noted that the shanties being allocated by the land grabbers could also be avenue for hoodlums and criminals to wreak havoc on the communities and students.
Recently, more than 40 suspected land grabbers invaded the school, claiming ownership of its land, disrupting academic activities at the time.
Another member of the community, Babajide Olaniyonu, stated that as a result of the emerging shanties, the surrounding communities have started having their shares of the illegality going in the community.
He called on government to come to the rescue of people in the community, noting that the illegal dumping of refuse could compromise people’s health.
Registrar of Shalom Group of Schools, Mr. Adebayo Akinola, disclosed that the school management was shocked to see miscreants coming to erect shanties around the school, which poses security threat to the pupils. He stated that as a result of the activities, a portion of the land has also been turned to an illegal dumpsite, constituting an eyesore to the residents.
He noted that there was a court injunction restraining both parties in the suit not to go into the said portion of the land, where all the unscrupulous activities are being perpetrated.
He pointed out that the school management had severally reported the case to the local council authority concerned, particularly the environmental section of the council on the need to take proactive steps to safeguard the health and life of the students of the school as well as the residents.