Editor
By Fatima Saka
Lagos State Government has expressed commitment to continuous clean drainage and canal maintenance to permanently address the menace of flooding in the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in a Lagos after on the spot assessment of the state of drainages in Ikoyi, including Dodan baracks over the weekend.
Wahab expressed satisfaction with the level of the cleaning of drainages at the Dodan Barracks Mammy Market.
He explained that the issue of perennial flooding in that axis had become a matter of serious concern to the state government.
“I must say that i am satisfied with the level of compliance and ongoing work around the State house on Dodan Barracks and Norman Williams Corridor.
” Alot have been done by the government in removing the nuisances blocking the canals and waterways of the Collector” Wahab said.
Wahab said that his team, including the Director, Drainage Enforcement and Compliance, Mr Mahmood Adegbite also visited Shoreline Estate, Onikoyi Estate, Park View and Banana Island.
He said that most structures in the areas visited did not observe the standard three metres required by law for the setback of secondary collector drains
“On investigation, we found out that the first property situated along Onikoyi/ Banana island collector situated inside Onikoyi Estate left 2.5 metre for the drainage setback and for us to have a balanced situation we will magnanimously adopt 2.5 metre which is smaller than the 3 metre required by law,” Wahab said.
He said the Ministry would serve contravention notice immediately to property owners along the corridor of Shoreline Estate/ Onikoyi Estate/Park View/ Banana Island collector whose property fall within the channel setback.
He said that the property owners and residents along the aforementioned collector drain would be given the next seven days to move their fences on both sides of the channel while observing the 2.5 metre drainage setback.
He added that enforcement would commence immediately after the expiration of the mandatory notice.
The commissioner advised property owners and residents to voluntarily move the fences by themselves before the commencement of enforcement.
“If they fail to do so and allow Government to use tax payers funds to enforce, property owners would be surcharged for the expenses incurred,” Wahab said.
He said that the team also visited Banana Island where the street housing Ford Foundation was flooded.
He said tha the situation had elicited complaints from members of the Estate with a resolution to bring a permanent solution to flooding issues in the area.
“We noticed that some part of the building of the Church of Nativity Vicrage, on going dredging work and the Estate extension project are responsible for the disruption of free flow of water into the lagoon; all these will be corrected and setback will be enforced” Wahab said.
The Commissioner emphasized that the Ministry does not demolish buildings but only removes impediments to obstruct free flow of storm water into the drainage infrastructure as backed by the law.
“It is like the parable of the man with a cow still looking for a cricket to eat; you have a full land, why grab the little meant for clearing and maintenance of the canal, collector and Primary Channel?” he said.
He said that the government would continually intensify its enlightenment efforts to sensitize residents on the essence of maintaining a floodless and clean environment at all time.
He appealed to residents to desist from the act of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainages, roads and other unauthorized places and support government efforts by ensuring the regular clearing of drainages in front of their houses for free-flow of water.
