Deborah Akinyosoye
Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, has reiterated the government’s commitment to proactive flood control and environmental enforcement, warning residents against turning drainage channels into refuse dumps and building on canal alignments.
The commissioner made these remarks during an inspection tour of ongoing projects at Odo Iya Alaro, Kosofe; Sheraton to Ojota Bridge; Ogudu Sheet Pile; and Adisa Balogun Channels in Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, conducted by officials of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
According to him, “We are in the rainy season, and it has been raining for the past few days. The feedback we’re getting is heartwarming,” Wahab said. “But we can’t fold our arms. We need to carry out proper assessments on all our projects to ensure they are delivering the desired impact.”
During the visit to the Odo Iya Alaro–Sheraton Road project, Wahab expressed satisfaction with the progress. “We are glad the project at Odo Iya Alaro–Sheraton Road is 45 per cent complete,” he said. “We came down to Ogudu to inspect the other section, and we’re pleased that the sheet piles are ready for installation.”
Wahab also raised concerns about unlawful development and environmental abuse along drainage channels, especially at Adisa Balogun Channel in Alapere. “We noticed that people are trying to build on the alignment. So, we came to see it for ourselves and serve them notices not to encroach on the parts that discharge floodwater from the neighbourhood,” he explained.
The commissioner further decried the indiscriminate dumping of refuse at the Odo Iya Alaro downstream in Ogudu, stressing that such acts threaten the integrity of the drainage system.
“We observed that residents have turned part of the area into a dumping ground. I’ve sent a message to LAWMA to serve warnings. That place must not be turned into a dumpsite,” he said.
According to Wahab, the entire canal system under construction stretches about 2.8 kilometres down to Maryland underbridge and must remain clear to function properly. He appealed to residents to stop encroaching on drainage channels.
“We keep appealing to them to stay away from the drainage channels that are meant to discharge floodwater from the neighbourhood,” he said. On the issue of plastic waste pollution, Wahab announced that the state government is moving from advocacy to enforcement. “We’ve done the advocacy repeatedly for over 18 months. We’ve engaged stakeholders. Now, we’re beginning enforcement on single-use plastics,” he said.