Maidan Orile, located in Ikosi-Isheri local government of Lagos, is one of the sprawling towns situated close to the bank of the channel of the river that stretches into the sea under the Third Mainland Bridge. Our correspondent, in this report, writes about how communities among the 12 Community Development Areas (CDAs) in Maidan Orile have been cut off since the collapse of the footbridge that linked them to the city centres.
Since the collapse of the 30-foot footbridge which connects residents of Tedalase, Imole and a few other communities between the bank of the canal in Maidan Orile and the cities, mainly Mile-12, in 2021, human movement has become a nightmare.
The footbridge, built with iron, provided access to the communities to the popular Mile 12. It was constructed during the military administration of Governor Mohammed Buba Marwa. The bridge has since become a shadow of itself, forcing hundreds of residents to cross using two rickety jetties.
The residents wait in turns for the available rickety wooden jetty which carries less than 15 people across the canal, witnessing a long queue during rush hour—in the morning and evening.
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The once-busy footbridge offering easy access to human movement has become an eyesore as part of it has been overgrown with bushes while the other part has become a post for military officers who watch over the communities.
During the visit of Daily Trust Saturday to the town, it was observed that the rubbles of the bridge have become a goldmine for scavengers as some ‘strong’ residents eke a living from the collapsed structure.
During interview sessions with residents of the communities, they expressed displeasure over the collapsed footbridge, saying it was taking a toll on both the economic and physiological well-being of the residents, which, they added, had been exacerbated by the lack of Primary Health Care (PHC) centre and primary schools.
Our communities lack government presence
Worried by the poor condition of the communities, the Chairman Teledalase CDA, Ovie Onojedo, who resides at No. 4 Omotayo Shoyemi Street, expressed displeasure, saying the community lacks government presence.
Onejedo’s 28 years existence in the community has not seen a Primary Healthcare Care (PHC), government-owned school provided for the people. He said students and patients travel miles to neighbouring communities to access such services.
“We have been facing serious challenges regarding the bridge, which collapsed two years ago.
“One of the major challenges which has continued to bother us is when you want to carry a pregnant woman, cross; how difficult it has always been.
“Imagine a pregnant woman going into labour at 1am or 2am, it is going to be very difficult for her because at that time you cannot call the people running the jetties to come out. It is a very difficult issue,” he said.
He stressed that lives have been lost due to the impassable road network to the neighbouring community, and called on the government to come to their rescue.
“Many people have lost their lives before we get them to the health centre or hospital. If we had a healthcare centre, it could have been better. There is no healthcare centre in this community.
“We have been getting promises that the government will give us a healthcare centre and primary school but for over 30 years that this community has existed, that has not happened.
“That is why I say we need the bridge. We need government intervention and presence in this community. We need a good motorable road,” the community chairman said.
‘Unfulfilled campaign promises: No footbridge, no vote’
Corroborating the chairman, his vice chairman, Oke Solomon, recalled promises that were made during the campaign for the 2023 elections by the member of the House of Assembly, Femi Saheed, representing Kosofe constituency.
“During the campaign, Femi Saheed promised to help us with the footbridge but since after the election, we have not seen government intervention. We depend on canoes to cross to Lagos.
“What we are facing inside this community is enormous. This forthcoming Salah will make it three years when this footbridge collapsed,” he said.
He stressed that the executives of CDA have been spearheading some communal development works aimed at preventing mishaps.
“Whenever there is a flood, the CDA contributes money to make makeshift roads to enable access to the community. Sometimes people sustain injuries while using the jetties and some of them are old women.
“A lot of people have relocated because of the stress of the canoe journeys,” he added.
He called for the state government’s intervention to bring succour to the community considering the infrastructure deficit. “We want the government to help us,” he said.
Musirat Sikiru, 64, a mother of four, lamented that the absence of the footbridge has contributed to the deterioration of her health.
“I have been here for over 19 years since I lost my husband. I am suffering. Since this bridge collapsed, I cannot pass through it because I have fallen down at one point, which led me to the hospital and I do not have money to buy drugs.
“This collapsed bridge is giving us problems, and I don’t have money to relocate to another place. I seek help from the government,” she said.
Insecurity threatens our peace
The vice-chairman, Imole CDA, Ogundele Semiu, stressed that the community has also been plagued by insecurity, and called on the government to stamp its presence there.
“We have been having issues with theft and robbery. Our lives and properties are very important, so we implore the government to do something about the criminality because, at times, we have issues of theft. They snatch our phones and at times in the night, they burgle our homes, stealing properties and animals.
“We have some people who have poultry and rear cattle. Sometimes, by the time you wake up in the morning, those things are gone.
“We implore the government to help us by doing something about the security situation. It is very important so that we can have peace of mind,” he added.
However, Oloye Sunday who has lived for over 10 years in the community, indicted the leaders, saying they were a clog to the wheel of the community’s progress.
“I have been in this community for over 10 years but I can see that people controlling this community do not like progress.
“If anything happens to you, you don’t need to announce it. Three years ago, a woman andwo kids lost their lives inside the river while trying to cross but the leaders forbade the announcement of death,” he said.
But he called on the state government to expose the community to infrastructure development.
We are appealing to the government that it should come to our aid. We are suffering, the people governing us are the problem. This is Midan Orile beside Mile-12. We are not at Mowe or Ibafo.
“In this community, we don’t have any health facilities and we have more than two million people living here. Apart from that, there is no primary school,” he lamented.
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