SOS to Governor Ambode

Sir: For years now, the inhabitants of Taiwo Adewole Street, formerly Yusuf Kazeem Street, New Oko Oba, under Ojokoro Local Council Development Area,
Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government in Lagos State have been enduring health and environmental risk. On that street is a pig farm that has continued to serve an extremely bad stench to us the inhabitants. As far as the adjoining end of the street at Abule Egba Bus Stop, anyone can perceive the smell. We can’t shut our windows to stop it even if that would work. We still need ventilation.

Passersby mock us daily, saying “dem don fat finish.” But this is not a laughing matter. It’s only those who are very dear to us that come visiting. Acquaintances come once and no more. Values of property there have gone down. A three bedroom flat suite has been placed for rent for almost three years now, no one has asked how much it is. They won’t take it even for free. Those who built houses there can’t abandon them.

It is only in Nigeria that a pig farm can be allowed in a residential area. It’s only in Nigeria that cattle struggle with cars on city roads. We have reported to the authorities at Alausa but nothing seems to have been done. Some have said the matter is under litigation, but I can’t confirm categorically. Even if it is true, must we continue to endure the risk we have been taking daily? It breaks my heart when our newborn babies start life with such pungent insult in their body system.

No one knows the long-term effect of this health hazard. I implore the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to save us and our children from this nightmare.
Wisdom Uzoma,
Lagos.