Mixed reactions trail evacuation of fire outbreak victims
Mixed reactions have continued to trail the evacuation of victims of the fire outbreak that destructed houses, shops and properties at the Okobaba area of Lagos last Tuesday.
While some victims of the fire outbreak expressed dissatisfaction, other commended the Lagos State Government for the provision of a relief camp.
According to the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, at the evacuation scene on Monday, a camp located in Agbowa has been opened to accommodate the victims and take care of their psychological and immediate needs.
He said that the evacuation to the camp is going; adding that over 1,050 IDPs had been enumerated and moved to the camp in batches.
He said, “The Relief Camps for Internally Displaced Persons has been declared open by the state. We have held series of meeting with the community leaders’ to check the facilities at the camp and they are happy with it. After that we commenced the evacuation. They can leave the camp for their place of work and return there. It is not a rigid camp.
“We did enumeration. And from our enumeration exercise, 1500 people are displaced with that we commenced the evacuation since three days ago with maximum security. At the relief camp, we have recreation facilities and clinics to cater for them. We have also involved all necessary agencies to maintain other.”
One of the displaced people, Mrs. Ayoka salako, urged the government to consider their means of livelihood, adding that it was preferable for the place to be rehabilitated.
She said, “This is where I gave birth to all my children. I have given birth to six children with a lot of struggle. So, it is not possible for them to relocate me to Agbowa - A town that I don’t know.
“I have never been there before. I cannot go there is become slave for years again. This place is convenient for me. I urge the government to rehabilitate the place for us. I need to bear the fruit of my labour for developing this place. I have suffered for years o gain ground here.”
Another resident, Idowu Shittu, who expressed dissatisfaction about the relief camp, appealed to the government to provide a means of transportation for the displaced people.
“How does the government want us to move to and fro? Even if they feed us, that cannot serve us. It would have been better if the government had provided us with a means of transportation that can convey us here to work and return us in the evening,” he said.
Also, a resident of the area, Muftau Bakare, commended the action of the government. He said the camp would satisfy the temporary needs of the displaced people.
He added, “The place is ok. The only thing is that the distance is too far for us because there is no how we can get a means of survival at the relief camp. But, it is good for residents. The place is conducive for me.”
January 15, 2013 by Sodiq Oyeleke
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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