As we were saying here last week, efforts by some land-grabbers masquerading as developers to mangle the Lagos State master plan, seize and build a housing estate on the Magodo wetland, thereby destroying the fauna and environment of the area in question, with attendant dire consequences for the inhabitants of the area, especially when it rains, were blown open by an urban planner and advocate of safe and wholesome environment, Mr Yacoob Abiodun.
Lagos State House of Assembly was indicted in the affairs; specifically, Chairman of its Committee on Lands. Neither the House nor its Committee has come out clean of the putrid odour oozing out of an ignoble act that endangers the self-same life and property they as law makers are maintained at the public expense to protect.
But not so the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, who, emphatically exonerated himself; not only that, he minced no words in saying the environment Ministry under his watch would not allow any such breach!
Though late in coming, his counterpart in Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Idris Okanla Salako, sent in his own response as we were putting this column to bed last week; we pledged then to take it here today.
We had wished that Salako could, in the intervening period, also throw some light on the observations of Kunle Adepitan, an online publisher whose comments we published here last week, on similar bastardization of the Lagos wetlands allegedly occurring now at Ilubirin estate (before the Obalende end of the Third Mainland bridge) and at Oworo-Isale (at the tail end of Oworonsoki). We were not fortunate enough to have Salako give answers to our prayers in that regard. Not yet!
Notwithstanding, we publish here today his response to the Magodo debacle. It reads: RE: WHEN LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT SELF-DESTRUCTS...The above-captioned is the title of an article written by an Online Journalist, and Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPP&UD), being statutorily charged with Physical Development and Control in Lagos State, deems it appropriate to seize the opportunity to shed light on the issue for the benefit of the discerning general public.
“The Ministry wishes to state in unequivocal terms that there is no iota of truth in the claim that the Ministry granted permit for housing development along the Magodo Greenbelt Area of Lagos State.
For the benefit of setting the records straight, the general public is hereby informed that neither the Ministry nor any of her Agencies received or granted permit for any housing development in the Greenbelt Area of Magodo as mentioned in the subject article.
“This is because doing so is tantamount to outright contravention of the State Planning and Development Control Laws, which are the principles and major instruments to bestowing a balanced and sustainable environment to distinguished Lagosians.
“Thus, any frivolous claim alleging the involvement of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in this unwholesome development is a deliberate and indeed malicious defamation which lacks substance or proof.
“However, the Ministry would continue to implement the State's Policy of "Zero Tolerance" on all illegal physical developments, including the regrettable encroachment of the Sensitive/Ecological Zones in order to preserve and guide against the misuse/abuse of all Greenbelts, Gorges, Water bodies, Wetlands and other vulnerable natural landscapes in every part of the State.
“The general public is therefore assured that the Ministry is at the forefront of efforts to attain an orderly, organised, sustainable and livable environment by maintaining studious application of the State Policies and Operative Development Plans, especially at this period of global environmental challenges typified by the Coronavirus–19 pandemic, which has occasioned the State's directive for the suspension of all building constructions as a means of stopping the spread.
“The Ministry urges anyone with contrary information to the above to feel free to approach the Lagos State Physical Planning and Building Control Appeals Committee which is open to receive complaints from members of the public on infractions relating to the built environment”
The statement was signed by the Commissioner himself, possibly to show the importance he attaches to the issue and how seriously he takes his job. Beautiful!
Bello said no greenbelt infractions would be allowed. His counterpart, Salako, has expressed similar sentiments. Ordinarily, that should have been the end of the matter but, as we all know, this is Nigeria! Hoping no one turns around tomorrow to say they were misquoted or that a press statement, duly signed, was not authorised or was forged!
While forwarding Salako’s rejoinder to me (which I had already received through another source), Abiodun accompanied it with the following comments: “I received the (above) rejoinder from a junior colleague in Lagos. Salako has openly declared that the LASG has zero-tolerance for green belt development. My take is that he should walk his talk. The part of the Magodo green belt already fenced should be pulled down to demonstrate the seriousness of his Ministry against environmental abuse. Nobody accused him. I only asked a few pertinent questions why he kept quiet and who gave the developer a permit to commence development within the green belt zone. If Bello went public to declare that "green belts" are no-go areas for development and Salako agreed as he wrote in his rejoinder, what is frivolous in the said article? They both need to go the extra mile and take inventory of all green belts in Lagos (Alapere inclusive) in order to determine the extent of the development that has taken place within those preserved areas. Definitely, it is going to be a jaw-dropping revelation! Let every agency be alive to its responsibilities. No more, no less!”
It is unfortunate that Nigerians doubt the honesty and integrity of their leaders. This must be painful to the men and women of integrity in public service – but can you blame the people who have been so conditioned by sad and unfortunate experiences?
My egbon, Ade Kukoyi, even asked that we escalate the issue! He said: Concerning the ‘water-bomb’ disaster waiting to happen, don't you think you should make much more ado about it? I strongly believe you could turn it into a ‘cause celebre’ (as) the new rainy season is around the corner”!
Noted sir! We shall continue to closely monitor the issue.
...Buhari’s second COVID-19 address
Thank God President Muhammadu Buhari spoke to us again on COVID-19! Last time he did, it was like he was dragged and compelled.... reluctantly. This time around, it looked like he really wanted to and was now more familiar with pronouncing“COVID-19” He also appreciated us better and was profuse in his appreciation of our sacrifices – but he should have told us his own sacrifices and the new ways he would tighten his own belt now he is asking us to make more sacrifices.
He thanked the donors of cash and relief materials; yes, but he should tell us what has become of the donations. Nigerians suspect they have found and or will find a way into private pockets and not to the really indigent that need the package. Buhari also did not address the billions of Naira his government is said to have shared and the Accountant-General’s office that went up in flames - allegedly to destroy records.
Buhari said we have achieved a lot in this fight; yes. Thanks to the medics. Thanks, too, to Lagos. But are we really taking good care of the people putting themselves on the first line of fire or we will dump them like we did Grace Adadevoh?
The number of testing has doubled; maybe; but from what figure? We now conduct 1,500 tests daily; yes, in a population of 200 million? We have trained 7,000 healthcare workers; maybe, but what is the ratio per citizens? These figures are like mere drops in the ocean.
There are NCDC teams in 19 states; great, but what of the remaining 17? Lagos and Abuja have capacity to admit 1,000 patients? Ask New York what that will amount to if 5,000 patients show up on a daily basis! Ask Spain or Italy, they will tell you 1,000 beds are peanuts and trifles. May we never get to that threshold!
The most horrifying part of Buhari’s speech was when he relapsed into his “we will, we will” soliloquy: “We will also build similar (isolation wards and treatment) centres” like the states...! Not that he has built or is building! How many days did it take the Chinese to build world-class hospitals?
In the dire, abject and parlous situation of health facilities, how dare Buhari propose a slash of N26.51 billion from the 2020 budget for the health sector of a total of N44.49billion, leaving just N17.98billion? This is evidence enough that this government pays only lip-service to the good health and well-being of Nigerians.
That way, we may remain in the woods for a pretty long time!
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