The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources in Lagos State, Tokunbo Wahab, has issued a seven-day notice of violation to property owners along Orchid Road, Agungi, Ajiran, Conservation Road, Osapa, lining the Ikota River.
Kunle Adesina, the Director of Public Affairs for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, disclosed this information through an official statement on Monday in Lagos.
Adesina clarified that Wahab announced this action in conjunction with the Governor’s Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, subsequent to an inspection tour of the Ikota River region.
This inspection aimed to assess compliance levels among property owners whose buildings and fences encroach within the approved seven-meter setback on both sides of the channel.
Additionally, the commissioner emphasized the importance of residents adhering to the State Drainage Master Plan to avoid property demolition.
Wahab reaffirmed the state’s commitment to enforcing regulations and reclaiming drainage setbacks, indicating the non-reversal of this decision after the expiration of the issued notices.
Highlighting concerns raised by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation about distortions in the area, Wahab stressed the adverse effects on natural habitats and the drainage channel’s functionality along Orchid Road, essential for redirecting stormwater into the Lagoon.
Moreover, he mentioned the government’s efforts to address the situation reasonably, revising the setback alignment from the original seven meters to six meters after discussions with property owners, aimed at reducing the number of structures affected by the enforcement.
“We cannot keep lampooning the government for flooding when developers, builders & residents are the main cause of flooding.
“We shall continue to enforce because that is why laws are made. Without law and order, there cannot be development, enough of this bad behaviour,” Wahab said.
The commissioner and his team also visited Oral Estate II along system 156 Igbo Efon where the Primary Channel was found to have been totally blocked by illegal structures without drainage aprovals.
The commissioner also visited Agungi, Ajiran, and Osapa where notices had earlier been served, adding that final decisions would be undertaken having seen the level of encroachment as regards the setbacks of Primary Channel and Secondary Collectors in the areas.
He explained that the commissioner noted that the System 156 Ikota River channel setback was originally 46 meters while property owners and residents on the corridor have reduced the size.
Wahab also visited Chevron Drive, where he issued a stop work order to Gravitas company, owners of Grace Ville Island & Pocket Island for sand filling part of Ikota River thereby reducing the lagoon size from the original 250 meters designed to accommodate the free flow of water.
“The lagoon is a natural path, people have started reclamation to cover up the path and narrow it; you cannot narrow the path of water, if you do, water will naturally create another path and this is dangerous for everyone,” Wahab said.
Adesina said that Wahab had earlier in the day, supervised the demolition of shanties on Thompson Avenue following petitions by residents that strange faces and ladies of easy virtues were always lining up the streets at night which is a security risk for the whole state and Ikoyi environs especially.
“At 6 a.m. this morning, we came in and what we saw was unimaginable and we had to pull down these illegal structures, evacuate, make some arrests, and charge them to court; by tomorrow we will have full possession of the land,” he said.
He urged all squatters to relocate outrightly as the state is determined to rid the state of shanties and all environmental infractions that dot the landscape.
He added, “We will not allow individuals who have no business in the state to become environmental nuisance and security risk.”
He said the Special Adviser on Environment noted that Lagos despite its peculiarities as a coastal state with low-lying terrains and a high population density among others, has remained afloat because of various measures put in place by the government.
He explained that the state government embarked on a comprehensive all-year-round cleaning and maintenance, dredging of drainage channels/canals, and constructing new drainages where and when necessary to find a lasting solution to flooding across the state.
He called for the full participation of citizens in governance as well as full participation by the communities and governmental bodies at all levels to achieve great improvements in the environmental sanitation, maintenance, and sustainable environment.
(NAN)
