Amuwo-Odofin

Amuwo-Odofin is a local government area (LGA) in the Badagry Division, Lagos State, Nigeria.[1]

Amuwo-Odofin
Location within Lagos Metropolitan Area
Location within Lagos Metropolitan Area
Coordinates: 6°27′N 3°16′E
Country Nigeria
StateLagos State
Government
  Local Government ChairmanValentine Oluseyi Buraimoh
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)
Websitewww.amuwo-odofin.gov.ng

Amuwo Odofin LGA is divided into Oriade and Amuwo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) with 7 wards each; Abule-osun, Agboju, Ibeshe, Ijegun, Irede, Kirikir and Kuje wards constitute Oriade LCDA and Ado-soba, Ekoakete, Ifelodun, Ilado Tamaro, Irepodun, Odofin and Orire wards comprising Amuwo LCDA.

Spread among the 14 wards are 67 communities, 12 of which are Urban, 8 semi-urban and 47 rural. Amuwo Odofin LGA has a population density of approximately 300,000 people per square kilometer.[2]

The LGA, with a population of over 1,500,000 according to the 2006 Census shares its boundaries with Ajeromi and Ifelodun LCDA in the East, Oriade LCDA in the West, the Badagry Creek to the South and Isolo/Igando LCDA to the North.

The Activities of Amuwo Odofin

The indigenous dwellers of Amuwo Odofin are mainly the Aworis. Some of the festivals embraced by the people are Elegba, Oro, Sangbeto and Igunuko festivals. The custodians of culture and tradition in the area are the traditional rulers. The Local Government is blessed with highly reputable Obas and Chiefs and Baales. This includes Oba Mobadenle Obalade Oyekan- the Onilado of Ilado/Inagbe Islands and Oba Lateef Olayinka Ado, Fabuwa 1, Alado of Ado Land.

Nonetheless, considering its location as a near border Local Government, International trade has found its root in the area with people of various extractions engaging in various forms of trading activities. It must also be stated that the Igbos account for more than half of the area's total population.[3]

Amuwo Odofin and Coronavirus

Amuwo-Odofin was regarded as one of the areas with a high rate of coronavirus in Lagos state.[4] Coronavirus was detected in this Local Government Area, among eight people who had confirmed cases. To reduce the spread of coronavirus, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), doctors, and other health doctors were posted to the local government.[5] Amuwo-Odofin was also listed as one of the 88 healthcare facilities, the Lagos state government accredited for the vaccination of coronavirus.[6] The COVID-19 vaccines made available for the residents were AstraZeneca vaccines.[6]

In a bid to stop the spread of the virus, all the sporting activities and centers in the area were stopped to prevent the spread. The bars and clubs were also closed up, due to the spread of the virus.[7] Hence, coronavirus awareness and medical outreach were offered to the Shoba community of Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State.[8] The ban on the bars and clubs as well as the sporting centers was emphasized and everyone was urged to comply with the guidelines and take responsibility for protecting themselves against the virus as directed by the NCDC. The virus was no respecter of gender, age, or status.[9][10][11][12][13]

Meanwhile, a voice note reported that the residents of the Amuwo-Odofin local government area (AOLG) were infected by the coronavirus. This was posted on all the social media platforms which caused concern in the area. However, the NCDC and the local government administration denied the claim. They organized a press conference where the Chairman of the Council stated that “the person who recorded the audio – who he identified as Dr. Faith Anyanwu – is neither a staff of the Lagos State Government nor that of the NCDC.”[14][15]

On coronavirus palliative, the food items that were meant to reduce hunger for the residents of the Amuwo-Odofin were packed at the warehouse on Benster Crescent, also known as Monkey Village in the Mazamaza area of the local government. The warehouse was looted of the COVID-19 palliatives. The palliatives were food items meant to get across to different groups of people in the area. The items included bags of rice, macaroni, spaghetti, salt, garri, sugar, and cartons of noodles.[16][17][18] The Lagos State Government condemned the looting, stating the palliatives were donated by the Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19. The vandalization of the warehouse in search of food led to unrest and protest in the areas. The unrest continued, causing the looting and burning down of banks, police stations, local government secretariats, television station, newspaper office, shopping malls, court, and many others.[19]

When coronavirus was controlled, the markets in Amuwo-Odofin were allowed to open for business but the market leaders signed an undertaking, agreeing to comply with all the safety protocols to stop the spread of the virus.[20]

Flooding in Amuwo Odofin

The communities in Amuwo-Odofin local government area are prone to flooding because of blocked drainages and the terrain. A published research in a journal reported that Amuwo Odofin has a rate of 10 percent risk zone of being flooded and 50 percent risk of the total area. The finding related the risk to being close to the bodies of water and having low terrains.[21] Thus, the areas experience flooding whenever it rains. Residents are advised to be more careful whenever it rains to avoid being washed away and meeting with other flooding issues, especially the blocked drainages.[22][23][24][25][13] It has been noted that properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed by floods in Amuwo-Odofin and other areas in Lagos state.[26][27]

A flood consultant and environmental risk researcher, Taiwo Ogunwumi, stated that to manage flooding, the flood early warning communication, accurate flood susceptibility map, use of proper land use regulation, planning and management, need for afforestation and programs that support tree planting, use of the presence of mangroves and wetlands should be available and accessible to the people before the rain sets in.[28]

In 2017, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Victoria Island branch, during its conference recommended good management of flooding in some areas of Lagos. They called on other professional bodies like the environmentalists, sociologists, lawyers, engineers and economists to join in seeking sustainable solutions to flooding issues.[23]

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government proposed to relocating of residents of the Mile 2 area in Amuwo-Odofin local government area for the construction and the management of the area against flood. Some of the areas have been controlled from flooding which made the federal government to nominate it as the most climate change-friendly local government in the country. The nomination synchronized with the 16th edition of the United Nations global on Conference on climate change also known as Conference of Parties, (COP 16) scheduled for November 29 to December 10, 2010. Thus, Amuwo-Odofin local government area was appointed to advocate for friendly climate conditions across the continent.[29]

References

  1. places. "Towns & Villages in Amuwo-Odofin « Lagos State « Nigeria". Towns & Villages. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  2. Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget (2011). LAGOS BUREAU OF STATISTICS. Lagos: Secretariat, Alausa. p. 3.
  3. AMUWO ODOFIN LGA. "Profile". Amuwo Odofin Local Government. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  4. Obokoh, Anthonia (12 January 2021). "Covid-19 respects nobody - Amuwo-Odofin local govt chairman". Businessday NG. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  5. Olasunkanmi Akoni. "COVID-19: Amuwo-Odofin LGA mulls increased funding for health sector". Vanguard.ng. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  6. Akinola Ajibola. "COVID-19 Vaccination: 88 Facilities Accredited By Lagos Govt". channelstv.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  7. Editorial (12 January 2021). "COVID-19: Amuwo Odofin Council bans sporting activities". Vanguard.ng. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  8. "Rotary club takes coronavirus awareness, medical outreach to Amuwo". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  9. "COVID-19: Amuwo Odofin LGA bans sporting activities". Punch Newspapers. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  10. "COVID-19: Amuwo Odofin Council Bans Sporting Activities". Voice of Awori. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  11. Editorial 01, Premier (12 January 2021). "COVID-19: Amuwo Odofin LGA Bans Sporting Activities". The Premier News. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  12. Nigeria, Ripples (12 January 2021). "Lagos LG bans sporting activities over surge in positive cases of COVID-19". Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  13. Christopher Ihinegbu, Bashiru Turay and Sampson Akwafuo (31 October 2022). "Does flooding undermine the management capacities of the COVID-19 pandemic? A study of Lagos State, Nigeria Christopher". Central European Journal of Geography and Sustainable Development. 4 (2): 50–63 via cejgsd.org.
  14. "NCDC, council debunk COVID-19 figure in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  15. Editorial (16 May 2020). "Lagos denies spike in infection rate in Amuwo Odofin, to deal with official who made claim in viral WhatsApp audio". The ICIR- Latest News, Politics, Governance, Elections, Investigation, Factcheck, Covid-19. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  16. Ben Ezeamalu. "Stampede in Lagos as residents break into COVID-19 palliatives' warehouse". premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  17. "Today FM - Hoodlums loot Covid-19 palliatives in a warehouse in Lagos". todayfmlive.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  18. "Hoodlums Break into Warehouse Filled with Covid-19 Palliatives in Lagos' Amuwo Odofin Area - The Lagos Today". 22 October 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  19. "Lagos condemns looting of COVID-19 palliatives at Amuwo-Odofin warehouse". Punch Newspapers. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  20. Nigeria, News Agency Of (24 July 2020). "COVID-19: Amuwo Odofin LG re-opens 4 markets in Lagos". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  21. Taiwo S. Ogunwumi, Juwon I. Ishola and Chukwudi G. Njoku (2021). "Where would be Flooded in 2021: A Geospatial Analysis of Flood Susceptibility in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State, Nigeria". International Journal of Earth & Environmental Sciences. 6 (187): 1–13 via researchgate.
  22. "Lagos Assembly candidate laments insecurity, flooding in Amuwo-Odofin". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  23. Agency Report (18 August 2017). "Flood: Nine local govts risk being submerged in Lagos – NSE". premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  24. "Nigerians React, Lambast Lagos Government As Flood Ravages Homes | Sahara Reporters". saharareporters.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  25. Online, Tribune (16 July 2022). "Sallah tragedies: How flood swept away four friends, new car, ram". Tribune Online. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  26. "Flooding: Lagos, Ogun residents lament losses worth million". Punch Newspapers. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  27. "Flooding: Lagos, Ogun Residents Lament Losses Worth Millions | Super 96.3 FM". Flooding: Lagos, Ogun Residents Lament Losses Worth Millions | Super 96.3 FM. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  28. Ndigwe, Chinedu (6 July 2022). "How to curb the flood menace in Lagos". Businessday NG. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  29. James Ezema (22 November 2010). "Flooding: Lagos to relocate Mile 2 estate residents". vanguardng. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
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