LASG inspects drainage projects to tackle flooding

The Lagos State Government, on Wednesday, reaffirmed its commitment to permanently addressing the menace of flash flooding and reclaiming the environment from various infractions across the metropolis.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated this while addressing the media after an inspection tour around some drainage projects at the Eti Osa Local Government Area, reiterating that it was a task that must be accomplished without delay.

The team, which included the Permanent Secretaries, Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji and the Drainage Services, Mahamood Adegbite visited the ongoing Orchid Road/Royal Pine Estate Secondary Collector Construction.

He added that for the past few months, state officials had negotiations with residents and homeowners along System 156 and 157 that contravened the drainage by obliterating System 156 and were given two options either to remove the contraventions and allow System 156 to discharge into the Ikota River through System 157 or they come up with a practicable design which would be funded by the residents as a middle ground.

The team also visited Ikota GRA (System 44A) to check out the Bill of Quantity prepared by residents to have a middle ground, following massive infractions for the construction of a secondary collector by the residents.

Wahab said, “The residents and homeowners agreed and signed an agreement with the government.

“Also, they agreed to deposit the money into an Escrow account in the next four weeks and also because construction workers go on break by December, they will start the project themselves the first week of January 2025.”

The commissioner added that the original dimension was 140 metres for the drainages but the state government was willing to put a human face to the enforcement process by moving 60 metres to the Ogudu/Maryland section and 40 metres to the Ogudu/Odo Iyaloro section, which makes it 100 metres.

According to him, the government has had a conversation with the contractors handling the coastal road, adding that they must allow the outlet to discharge water into the Atlantic.

He said the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang engaged in the clean-up of secondary drains and manholes in the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas all year round to reduce flash flooding.

The commissioner also said an evacuation notice would be served to shanties around Kuramo waters to address flash flooding.

“The community of shanties growing around the Kuramo Waters are a major source of concern, security and environmental wise.

“We cannot even account for them. We are not saying you cannot come to stay in Lagos but let them account for you in Lagos so they can plan around you in Lagos like schools, health facilities and other infrastructures.

“For us, this is not encouraging. We will serve them the notices and then let them just move so we can take ownership of this place and keep it for our own safety,” he said.