The Ogun State House of Assembly Committee on Justice, Ethics, and Public Petitions has begun an inspection of communities affected by the Lagos State Government’s Water Pipeline Project in Ifo 2 Constituency. Residents have continued to complain about the serious damage the project is causing to their environment.
The committee, led by its chairman, Oluseun Adesanya, visited Akute, Baale, Alausa, and Oke-Aro on Wednesday to see for themselves the level of damage caused by the ongoing works.
The visit came after weeks of discussions and earlier meetings with stakeholders, including officials of the Lagos Water Corporation, the project contractor Salini Nigeria Limited, and representatives of the affected residents.
During the tour, Adesanya and his colleagues — Folawewo Salami, Samsideen Lawal, and Dickson Awolaja — met with members of the Baale Akinosi Area Community Development Council.
The lawmakers raised concern about the dangers created by the pipeline project and insisted that urgent steps must be taken to protect the lives and property of the people.
Adesanya assured the communities that the Assembly would take strong legislative action if the relevant authorities failed to address the situation quickly.
He explained that the parliament must ensure development projects do not put the environment or the people at risk.
“We have seen the level of damage here, and it is worrying,” he said. “The Assembly will not allow this matter to be ignored. If immediate corrective measures are not taken, we will be forced to act more strongly to defend our people.”
He added that the committee would hold another meeting with stakeholders in the coming weeks to seek a lasting solution to the problem.
He stressed that while the Assembly preferred dialogue and collaboration, it would also not hesitate to use its constitutional powers to compel action if necessary.
In his response, Rev. Joshua Adegbola, Chairman of the Community Development Council, confirmed that the pipeline project had left many communities facing serious environmental challenges.
Adegbola said the works had blocked natural water channels, which has caused repeated flooding, worsened erosion, and made some houses unsafe to live in.
He lamented that despite several appeals, little had been done to solve the problem, forcing residents to suffer needless hardship.
The community leader urged the government to step in quickly, warning that if nothing was done, the damage could grow into a bigger crisis.
He expressed hope that the intervention of the Ogun State Assembly would finally bring relief to the affected communities.
