LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REFUNDS 145 FORMER SUBSCRIBERS OF EGAN HOUSING ESTATE
admin By Oyebola Owolabi
The Lagos State government has again reiterated its readiness to enforce the law and restore all Right of Ways of drainage channels across the state.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab stated this when he visited the Isheri/Aiyetoro/Ologe Primary Channel at Anuoluwapo/Oke-Odan Street in Ishashi, Ojo Town; Alaba Rago Primary Channel (System 40B); Alaba International Market Primary channel (System 40), Ojo Local Government Area. He said the government is determined to restore the environment from all sorts of infractions that has altered the landscape.
According to Wahab, the government has awarded the contract towards the restoration of the axis towards making Lagos flood-free.
He said: “The governor has awarded contract for the restoration of some critical projects in this axis around Ishashi/Oke Odan where we have witnessed people purposely building on the channel. They have been served notices so we have to start enforcement alongside the contractor who is ready to move to site.”
Wahab also explained that all concerned have been served contravention notices which have elapsed and so enforcement of separation of contravention will begin tomorrow Thursday.
The commissioner said the law would take its full course as it was observed that some people along the System 40 drainage Channel in Ojo Local government Area have built on the canal path and narrowed the primary channel, thus causing flooding.
He said government will not back down on the enforcement and would ensure that 7metres drainage setback on all drainage channels are restored. Wahab also stressed that 15 metres drainage setback is the standard right of way to be restored at Alaba International Market outfall, but the lawmaker representing the area in the House of Assembly, Olusegun Ege, who was on the inspection visit, advocated for less than 10 metres to be observed.
“This is just to let people know that we are not dropping the ball and the weather has been very favorable so we have no excuse than to move to site, clean up the drains and restore the right of way and then take ownership of the public infrastructure. The development of any city is a deliberate plan; it is not magical, things will not happen unless the plan is enforced,” Wahab added.
Special Adviser to the governor on Environment Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu lamented that the unwholesome practices of some business owners/developers, who were in the habit of converting the right of way into land and building on it, has exposed other property owners to dangers of loss of properties.
He admonished residents to support government’s efforts at making Lagos a safe, clean, flood-free and sustainable one.
President-General of Alaba International Market, Chief Nnamdi Amajioyi, promised they would cooperate with the government to find lasting solutions to the challenges plaguing their area.
“We have challenges whenever it rained. I believe that if we go by what the Ministry said, the problem of flood will be a thing of the past” he said.
