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By Opeyemi Muhammad
Lagos State Government says there is no going back on the enforcement and restoration of right-of-way of all drainage channels in the state.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, made this declaration when he visited some drainage channels.
TheNewsZenith reports that Wahab expressed government’s determination to restore the environment.
He said the government will remove all infractions that had altered the landscape.
According to him, the government has awarded contracts for the restoration projects in the axis to make Lagos flood-free.
“The Governor has awarded contracts for the restoration of some critical projects around Ishashi, Oke-Odan. People have purposely built on the drainage channel in this area.
“We have served them notices. So, we have to start enforcement along with the contractor who is ready to move to the site,” TheNewsZenith quotes Wahab as saying.
He said the ministry had served contravention notices to all concerned and that the notice had elapsed. The enforcement started on Thursday.
The commissioner said the law would take its full course because some people along the “System 40” drainage channel in the Ojo Local government Area have built on the canal.
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The buildings have narrowed the primary channel.
Wahab said that 15-metre drainage setback is the standard right-of-way. The ministry will restore this at the Alaba International Market outfall.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, expressed regret over alleged unwholesome practices of some developers and business owners.
Rotimi-Akodu said their habit of converting the right-of-way into land and fully building on it has exposed other property owners to danger of property loss.
He appealed to residents to support government efforts in making Lagos a safe, clean, flood-free and sustainable place.
In his remark, the President-General of Alaba International Market, Chief Nnamdi Amajioyi, said the executive of the market association has notified the government about challenges they face
Amajioyi pledged that the association would cooperate with the government to find a lasting solution.
“We have challenges whenever it rains. If we comply with the ministry’s diretives, the problem of flood will be solved,” TheNewsZenith quots Amajioyi as saying.
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