The Lagos State Government has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy against construction sites that obstruct roads and drainage channels with building materials, warning that offenders will face penalties.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, issued the warning on Sunday during an inspection tour of ongoing projects in Central Lagos, the LAWMA transfer loading station on Simpson Street, and Victoria Garden City (VGC), Ajah.
Wahab said construction sites found violating the regulations would be shut down and made to pay penalties to cover government resources deployed to address the resulting infractions.
He also reaffirmed the government’s resolve to remove illegal structures, including shanties along rights of way, and urged stakeholders to suggest stricter measures for enforcing compliance.
The commissioner said the state takes offenders to court regularly, stressing that laws and regulations must be backed by consequences for violations.
On waste management, Wahab said the government was progressing towards a system in which waste would be treated as a resource rather than discarded. He disclosed that waste management trucks had been shipped, while material recovery facilities and transfer loading stations were under development.
During the visit to the Simpson Street transfer loading station, officials briefed the commissioner on the facility’s infrastructure and operational plans. He added that the ministry would begin conducting unannounced visits to agencies under its supervision to assess their performance.
The inspection team also visited regeneration projects on Lagos Island, examining infrastructure from Drop-in Extension 1 to 4 and directing officials to intensify preparations ahead of the next rainy season.
At VGC, the team received petitions concerning unusual flooding and discussed measures to address the problem.
Wahab also appealed to residents to bear with the government over the inconvenience caused by the ongoing rehabilitation of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, explaining that the work was being executed in phases to minimise disruption to lives and property.
Other officials on the inspection tour included the Special Adviser on the Environment, Kunle Rotimi-Akodu; Permanent Secretaries Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen and Olakunle Adegbite; LASWMO General Manager Femi Afolabi; LAWRECO Executive Secretary Khadijat Adeyemo; and other ministry directors.