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Lafiaji Residents Cry For Help As Coastal Erosion Hits Community

Residents of Lafiaji, a community in the Lekki-Epe area of Lagos State have cried out to the government to come to their rescue as the … Continue reading Lafiaji Residents Cry For Help As Coastal Erosion Hits Community


Residents of Lafiaji, a community in the Lekki-Epe area of Lagos State have cried out to the government to come to their rescue as the area experiences a coastal erosion.

One of the residents, Godspower Ebimiawe, explained how devastating the impact of the ocean surge can be because he had witnessed the deadly surge that ravaged Koramo beach in 2012.

The tidal waves ravaged the beach, sweeping away fun seekers, fishermen, as well as many occupants of illegal shanties at the beach front.

The natural disaster led to the destruction of property worth millions of Naira and several properties were put at risk while more than 10 people lost their lives.

Mr Ebimiawe who spoke to Channels Television explained that when the incident occurred in 2012, the remaining residents were asked to resettle in Lafiaji, pending the time a better accommodation was provided.

Within a space of two weeks, the Lafiaji community has now reportedly lost between 20 and 30 meters of land to the ocean and this, according to Ebimiawe, happened as a result of the wave breakers which the government is using to block the water.

“It is that same thing that affected Koramo that is trying to come to this place. When they started bringing the stones close to the houses, the surge started disturbing”.

He, therefore, called on members of the community to be vigilant even as he hinted that he already has plans to vacate the area.

In the meantime, however, residents have filled sandbags and placed them at the shoreline as a temporary measure to slow down the erosion process.

Two NGOs in the Lekki and Ajah axis have also taken it upon themselves to draw the attention of the government to the dangers currently brewing in Lafiaji.