Lagos State Government, over the weekend, restated that its focus on drainage and canal maintenance remains unwavering to address the menace of flooding in the State permanently.
Addressing newsmen after an inspection tour of many areas in Ikoyi, including the State House, Dodan Barracks, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo 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/Norman Williams Corridor; a lot has been done by the government in removing the nuisances blocking the canals and waterways of the collector”, he said.
The Commissioner, accompanied by the Director Drainage Enforcement and Compliance, Engr. Mahmood Adegbite, also visited Shoreline Estate, Onikoyi Estate, Park View and Banana Island, noting that most structures in the areas mentioned above did not observe the standard three metres required by law for the setback of secondary collector drains.
According to him, “Our investigations revealed 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 the 2.5 metre which is smaller than the three metre required by law”.
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 properties fall within the channel setback.
He added 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, saying enforcement would commence immediately after the expiration of the mandatory notice.
Wahab advised property owners and residents to voluntarily move the fences by themselves before the commencement of enforcement saying, that if they fail to do so and allow Government to use taxpayers’ funds, property owners would be surcharged for the expenses incurred.
The team also visited Banana Island where the street housing Ford Foundation was flooded and has elicited complaints from members of the Estate with a resolution to bring a permanent solution to the flooding issues in the area.
“We noticed that some parts of the building of the Church of Nativity Vicarage, ongoing dredging work and the Estate extension project are responsible for the disruption of the free flow of water into the lagoon; all these will be corrected and setbacks will be enforced”, he said.
The Commissioner emphasised that the Ministry does not demolish buildings but only removes impediments to the free flow of stormwater into the drainage infrastructure as backed by the law.
He said the Government would continually intensify its enlightenment efforts to sensitise residents on the essence of maintaining a floodless and clean environment at all times.
The Commissioner also appealed to all residents in the State to desist from the act of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainages, roads and other unauthorised places and support government efforts by ensuring the regular clearing of drainages in front of their houses to ensure the free-flow of water.
