Environment
Reptiles, Flooding, Dumpsite Stench Threaten Revellers At Park
The Chairman of Rosellas
Amusement Park in Lagos, Mr Oluwatoyin Ololade, says the park may soon close down due to threat to revellers by reptiles, dumpsite stench and flooding.
Ololade told newsmen in Lagos that the park was facing challenges of flooding and stench oozing from the dumpsite created beside the park.
He, therefore, appealed to the Lagos State Government to save his park, stressing that workers would be negatively affected if the park was closed down.
“Each time it rains, the wastes and dirt at the dumpsite will litter the whole environment and these increase the level of flood around the park and in the community.
“The flood has destroyed properties and facilities worth millions of naira at the park, “ Ololade said.
Ololade said the dumpsite near the park was also breeding flies, rats, snakes and dusts which discouraged revellers from patronising the park.
“Some customers have deserted the park because of the unhygienic environment, odour and reptiles,’’ he said.
He said the park’s swimming pool, perimeter fence, water pumping machine and musical instrument were some of the items destroyed in previous floods.
Oloade said that others items destroyed by flood were documents, indoor games facilities and domestic animals at the park.
He said that some building structures had been abandoned because of the flood.
Ololade listed some parks in the state that had folded up as the Leisure Park, Fantasy land, Family fun, Kid zone and Apapa Amusement Parks.
“All these parks are tourism sites in the city-state. They boost the tourism prospective of the state and can provide job opportunities to many youths.
“Therefore, the Lagos State Government should revive these parks and save others from going into extinction, “ he said.
According to him, the major cause of the flooding is the drainage channel abandoned by a foreign construction company engaged by the state government in 2013 that constructed the LASU-Igando express road.
“The drainage channel is yet to be completed by the construction company that stopped work in front of park.
“Any time it rains, it causes heavy flooding around the park and this usually damages properties and facilities running into millions of naira, “ Ololade said.
“We have written to the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Lagos Physical Planning and Development Authority, Lagos State Waste and Management Authority (LAWMA) and Commissioner for the Environment.
“All efforts and steps proved abortive as there was no reply or response from any of them despite all the letters.“
Mr Ola Oresanya, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), said that the authority was planning to correct the effect of the odour and flooding caused by the dumpsite.
He said the authority had received complaints on both issues lodged by residents and business owners from the community.
The managing director said that the Lagos State government had concluded plans to relocate the LAWMA dumpsite in the city to Epe on the outskirt of Lagos.
“The LAWMA management is not happy with the complaints and the health hazard the dumpsite is causing residents and business owners in the area.
“LAWMA promises to provide a lasting solution to their complaints, “ he told NAN.
Oresanya said LAWMA would put safety measures in places where there were dumpsites in the state to combat flooding and odour from affecting the residents.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a seven-day flood advisory, warning of a medium flood risk in 17 states between July 21 and July 27.
The agency said the alert followed rising water levels at key river monitoring stations, increasing the likelihood of localised flooding along river channels and floodplains.
NIHSA Director-General, Umar Mohammed, disclosed this in National Flood Advisory (Alert No. NFA-2026-200) issued on Tuesday.
He said the affected states are Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
According to Mohammed, river levels at Saminara on the Karam River, Waya Dam Site on the Waya River and Amber on the Amber River had exceeded watch and warning thresholds.
He said 16 gauging stations nationwide were recording elevated river stages, placing nearby communities at risk of localised flooding.
Mohammed urged state governments, local authorities and residents of flood-prone communities to take precautionary measures immediately.
NIHSA said Bauchi had the highest exposure, with 1,841 communities, 145 schools, 101 health facilities and eight markets identified as vulnerable.
The agency also identified vulnerable communities and public facilities in Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states.
Mohammed urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), local governments and community leaders to activate emergency response plans.
He recommended relocating residents, livestock and valuables from floodplains to safer locations
He also advised emergency agencies to pre-position food, medical supplies and water treatment materials in areas likely to be affected.
“The NIHSA boss called for community mobilisation through early warning volunteers and local communication channels to ensure timely dissemination of flood alerts.
He cautioned residents against walking, driving or riding through flooded roads, bridges and fast-flowing waterway.
A cleaner environment begins with collective responsibility. That commitment was evident across Umuahia on Saturday as thousands of residents turned out to participate in the July monthly environmental sanitation exercise, with officials describing the compliance level as one of the most encouraging in recent months.
The impressive turnout has renewed hope that Abia’s campaign for a cleaner and healthier environment is steadily becoming a culture rather than a routine exercise.
The July monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Umuahia recorded about 80% compliance.
The Abia State Ministry of Environment described the turnout as a strong indication that residents are embracing Governor Alex Otti’s vision for a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable environment, while calling for the establishment of Neighbourhood Environmental Watch groups to sustain the momentum.
The Abia State Government has commended residents of Umuahia for their impressive participation in the July monthly environmental sanitation exercise, describing the turnout as a strong indication that citizens are embracing the state’s campaign for a cleaner and healthier environment.
Speaking after monitoring the exercise across major parts of the Umuahia metropolis, the Permanent Secretary, Abia State Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ikechukwu Oriuwa, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance and urged residents to sustain the momentum.
According to him, the success recorded during the exercise reflects growing public support for the environmental agenda of the Labour Party-led administration.
“I think, so far, so good. At this point, what we need to do is sustain the momentum. We should move forward with establishing a Neighbourhood Environmental Watch so that residents can monitor compliance and ensure the initiative is sustained,” he said.
Mr. Oriuwa further applauded both residents and the organisers for the success of the exercise.
“Well, I must say I am very impressed. I appreciate the organisers for putting this programme together. It has been highly impressive, and I believe participants have learnt a great deal. From what I have observed so far, everything has been well organised, and I think they are doing an excellent job. I encourage them to keep up the good work because programmes like this are beneficial to everyone,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary stressed that environmental sanitation should become a daily culture rather than an activity observed only on designated sanitation days.
Drawing from an Igbo proverb, he explained why communities must collectively protect their environment.
“An Igbo proverb says that a goat owned by the public often goes hungry. That is why establishing a Neighbourhood Environmental Watch is important. It will encourage residents to take collective responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean and ensuring that sanitation efforts are sustained.”
He also urged government agencies to strengthen enforcement by deploying environmental health officers to carry out routine inspections and ensure compliance with sanitation laws.
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