The Lagos state government on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to permanently address the menace of flash flooding and reclaim the environment from all sorts of infractions that dot the landscape across the metropolis.
The State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab stated this while addressing the media after an inspection tour of some drainages and projects at the Eti-Osa Local Government Area, reiterating that it is a task that must be accomplished without delay.
The team which included the Permanent Secretaries, Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji and that of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite visited the ongoing Orchid Road/Royal Pine Estate Secondary Collector Construction where the state and residents have reached an agreement on how to mitigate the damages that may come from addressing the issue with the corridor of System 156/157 to permanently deflood the area and environs.
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 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.
Wahab explained that the construction would commence in the first week of January 2025 under the supervision of the Ministry’s engineers after the deposit of the required sum in an escrow account in the next four weeks which will demonstrate seriousness.
“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, as they will start the project themselves in the first week of January 2025”, he said.
He explained that System I was created in 1974, and it is the biggest and widest Primary Channel that defloods the major parts of the mainland adjusts across Ogudu, Ojota, Ifako, Gbagada, Maryland, adding that the flyover bridge coming from Odo Iyaloro will pass across these areas.
The Commissioner averted that the original dimension was 140 meters for the drainages, but the State government is 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.
He explained that the team also visited the Onikoyi Waterfront / LASWMO office, Lekki Modular Septage Pretreatment Plant (MSPP), where illegal dredging activities are going on without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), stormwater designs and drainage clearance documents, adding that all the operators will be served with Stop Work Order immediately.
He said the team had to visit the Coastal Road (Kuramo Section), which is very strategic to Victoria Island, to ensure the axis is prevented from encroachment and removal of all shanties in the axis.
According to him, the Lagos Government has had a 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 also give the squatters a notice to vacate so that we can clean up the neighbourhood”, he added.
He said the government must remove the shanties in the axis because the government cannot trust the squatters, saying that the government must ensure the well-being of residents, which ranges from health infrastructure to road infrastructure, amongst others.
He said the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG) engages in the clean-up of secondary drains and manholes in the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas all year round. As such, Lagos experiences minimal flash floods.
