Members of Olatunde Onimole community in the Surulere area of Lagos State have cried out over a dirty canal posing a threat to public health.

The canal, located opposite Princeton College, has been there for over 10 years and is close to several food canteens and a foodstuffs market.

Speaking with FIJ on Monday, a meat seller in the market, Mufutau Adeagbo, said traders in the market have always done their best to keep the canal clean.

“Those of us in this market have always been the ones taking care of the canal, and we have have got rid of the dirt up to three times now,” he said. “It used to be a gutter. The water flowed down here from Adelabu.”

Adeagbo also said officials of the local council had visited the canal several times, each time promising to clean it up, but to no avail.

In his own account, a community member who asked not to be named, said the situation worsens during rain.

“Although dirty canal is common in Lagos, this is not a good sight,” he said. “During rain it gets filled up. And above all, it has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. In the evening, the mosquitoes take over the street.”