LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REFUNDS 145 FORMER SUBSCRIBERS OF EGAN HOUSING ESTATE
admin By Oyebola Owolabi
The Lagos State government has again reaffirmed its commitment to finding permanent solutions to flash flooding, and reclaiming the environment from infractions.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab stated this after an inspection of some drainages and projects in Eti-Osa Local Government Area. He reiterated that it is a task that must be accomplished without delay.
The team, comprising Permanent Secretaries in the ministry – Gaji Omobolaji and Mahamood Adegbite – visited the ongoing Orchid Road/Royal Pine Estate Secondary Collector Construction, where the state and residents have agreed on ways to mitigate damages that may come from addressing the corridor of System 156/157 in order to permanently deflood the area and environs.
Wahab noted that negotiations had been on with residents and home owners along System 156 and 157 who contravened the drainage by obliterating system 156, and were given two options of either removing the contraventions and allow system 156 to discharge into Ikota River through 157, or they come up with a practicable design which will be funded by the residents as a middle ground.
The team also visited Ikota GRA (System 44A) to check out the Bill of Quantity (BOQ) prepared by residents to have a middle ground following massive infractions for the construction of a Secondary Collector by the residents. The commissioner explained that the construction would begin in the first week of January 2025, and supervised by engineers from the ministry, after the deposit of the required sum in an escrow account in the next four weeks which will demonstrate seriousness.
He added: “The residents and homeowners signed an agreement with the government. They also agreed to deposit the money into an escrow account in the next four weeks for work to begin in January 2025 because construction workers go on break in December.”
Wahab explained that System 1 was created in 1974, and it is the biggest and widest Primary Channel that defloods the major parts of the mainland. It cuts across Ogudu, Ojota, Ifako, Gbagada, and Maryland.
He added that the original dimension for the drainages was 140 meters, but the government is willing to put a human face to the enforcement by moving 60 metres to Ogudu/Maryland section, and 40 metres to Ogudu/Odo Iya Alaro section, which makes a total of 100 metres.
The team also visited the Onikoyi Waterfront/LASWMO office; Lekki Modular Septage Pretreatment Plant (MSPP), where illegal dredging activities are on without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), storm water designs and drainage clearance documents. Wahab said all the operators will be served an immediate Stop Work Order.
The team also visited the Coastal Road (Kuramo Section), which is very strategic to Victoria Island, to remove all shanties in the axis and ensure it is secured from encroachment.
According to the commissioner, the Lagos State government has had conversation with the contractors handling the coastal road, that they must allow the outlet to discharge water into the Atlantic. “So we came to inspect that, and to also give the squatters a vacate notice so we can clean up the neighborhood,” he added.
According to him, it is necessary to remove all shanties in the axis because the government cannot account for the squatters, ‘yet it is compulsory for the government to ensure the well-being of residents, ranging from health infrastructure to road infrastructure, among others.
