Lagos community where residents defecate into canal

2026-03-21 - 07:43

By Florencemary Nwabueze Residents of Boundary area in Ajegunle, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local government area of Lagos state are groaning in pain as a canal that passed through the community has been turned into a waste disposal outlet while filth dumped into it poses serious health hazard. The canal which passes through the Boundary market and empties into adjoining waterways constantly emits unpleasant odors that envelopes the environment. Read Also: How we were sexually exploited in Mali — Nigerian teens It runs directly behind the Alayabiagba model market popularly known as the Boundary market. The canal flows through the commercial area of Ajegunle serving as a drainage system for the market and surrounding neighborhood. It is frequently described as a stagnant heavily polluted and waste-filled canal that serves as an open dumping site. The adjoining streets are: Tolu, Goriola, Uzor 1, Uzor 2 and Fasari streets. When Vanguard visited the area, the residents bemoaned their plight while living amid filth, darkness and government neglect. They lamented that it has been neglected for long stating that it poses serious health hazard to them and even visitors because it has become a dumping ground for human waste while those that do not have toilets freely empty their bowels inside the canal. A market woman at Goriola Street who pleaded anonymity narrated the challenges faced by the locals mostly during the rainy season. According to her, “the canal causes a lot of pollution, especially when it rains. The government can channel it like the way they did in Ikoyi and some other places. When you go to those highbrow areas, you will not see this kind of canal. Even when you see it, they will construct a drainage to channel it. But this one, when it starts raining, the water will flood everywhere and after some time, mosquitoes and other insects will be everywhere. They have to channel it and put concrete, so that the water doesn’t flood houses again, “she said. A member of Ajegunle Peoples Movement, APM, who simply identified himself as Mr. Stephen also narrated their plight stating that garbage collection is irregular thereby forcing locals to dispose of household refuse in the canal. “Some people have built some make-shift houses (Pako) in the canal. Some don’t have sewage in their houses, so most of them channel their pipe to the canal and those who are living close to the canal are exposed to health hazards. Also, those responsible for waste disposal don’t normally come, so people just throw things inside the canal. The last time government officials came to clean the canal was five years ago. We are waiting for them to come again. We expect that they will come again this time that elections are round the corner. The government is not doing anything to help the matter. “We pay the waste management authority yet we are not seeing their impact. They rarely come to this area. The government collects taxes from us, yet they ignore our health, our safety, and our basic needs. We are happy now that the state government has reintroduced the monthly environmental sanitation. Maybe they will now remember us”. Another resident, Mr. Francis also lamented that aside from the stench from the polluted canal, criminals have taken over the areas especially the streets close to the canal. “I was robbed twice in 2025 on my way to work, losing all my possessions. We don’t feel safe here. I usually go to work very early, between 4:30am and 5:00am. The robbers blocked and robbed me.” When Vanguard attempted to speak with the local government chairman, Dr. Olalekan Olu Akindipe, some of his staff initially demanded a written letter from our editor. She was, however, allowed to meet with him but on seeing video evidence of the filth, the visibly enraged chairman immediately claimed that where the canal was located was not part of his constituency. He then ordered the journalist to delete her voice recordings and threatened to arrest her, with aides stationed behind her to enforce his demands. After it was deleted, his aides walked her out of the office while the chairman continued to rage in anger. The confrontation has highlighted a troubling pattern of abandonment of critical societal needs and non provision of basic amenities to residents in our communities. Vanguard News