The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has provided succour to victims of the rainstorm that affected four communities at Badagry in May 2020, and resulted in the loss of many buildings and other personal belongings of residents.
Speaking during the presentation of the cash support to 31 families affected by the rainstorm, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the presentation was a fulfilment of the promise made by the State government to compensate victims of the unfortunate incident.
Sanwo-Olu, represented at the event by the Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Solomon Bonu, however, implored the beneficiaries not to divert the money to other projects, marry new wives or host parties, insisting that the money should be judiciously utilised to rebuild their damaged houses.
He said the present administration deemed it fit to compensate the victims in the four affected communities namely, Iragon, Iragonthogli, Iragbo and Kemu, in order to alleviate their suffering and reduce the negative impact of the incident on the families.
Reiterating that the present administration has great plans for the division, the Governor disclosed that five major projects had been approved for the area namely: the Badagry General Hospital, construction of Topo Road, construction of Aradagun Road, construction of a standard jetty at the Marina, Badagry and Agro-tourism, Avia.
He averred that approval has equally been given for the renovation of the Agia Tree as a historic monument, promising to accelerate the construction of the International Badagry Expressway in conjunction with the Federal Government.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said that in compliance with COVID-19 protocols the victims being supported by the State government would get the palliatives in two batches, noting that the first batch of 31 beneficiary-households will receive their relief items immediately, while the second batch would get theirs next week Thursday.
Oke-Osanyintolu, who spoke through the Director, Administration and Human Resources of the Agency, Mrs. Olaide Osifeso, said the victims were grouped into mild, moderate and severe, adding that the cash support is in addition to some infrastructural repairs in the four communities affected by the rainstorm.
In his words, “The affected families are grouped into three according to the level of damages suffered, with those who suffered severe damages getting N500,000, while those who suffered moderate and mild damages will collect N400,000 and N200,000 respectively”.
The Honourable Member of Lagos State House of Assembly, representing the four communities affected by the rainstorm, Mr. David Setonji, thanked the State government for supporting the victims, implored the beneficiaries to spend the cash support judiciously and promised that all the victims would be compensated.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Baale of Iragonthogli, one of the affected communities, Chief Sedowhe Francis, commended the State government for supporting the victims, as many have not been able to rebuild their houses after the incident.
