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Caption. Oba Lawal (middle) with the environment team during the visit
Lagos State government has declared that there is no going back on its decision to enforce the law and reclaim the environment from all sorts of infractions dotting the landscape.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who stated this in Lekki, while leading state officials, including the Special Adviser on Environment, Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, Permanent Secretaries and heads of agencies, around Dodan Barracks, Obalende, Lekki Phase 2 and Iru Kingdom, to inspect the drainages and environmental infractions, insisted that there is no going back on this.
He said: “Without caring whose ox will be gored, we discovered that some people in the Gedegede community in Lekki Phase 2, have built on the canal path and narrowed the primary channel, which would result in flooding that may destroy peoples’ assets. There is no looking back on this. My concern is why are people being so reckless in the cause of trying to grab land and make money at other people’s expense?”
The commissioner, who also fielded questions from newsmen after the inspection, described some of the infractions as man-made challenges, which must be confronted.
Speaking on what transpired at Dodan Barracks, Wahab said: “We had to check the canal and the water path for waste water in the barracks. Surprisingly, they have built to block water passage, and as you know, water must find its level.
“We have served notices that would lapse in seven days, and we are going to have a meeting with the General Officer Commanding (GOC), and the commander, because we must do the demolition to open up paths for the water to enter the primary channels,” he explained.
On Obalende, which the team also visited, Wahab lamented that the spaces have been converted into motor parks.
“The path created for Macgregor canal has also been blocked. So, for me, our assignment is very clear on Obalende. We are going to serve them notices to leave, so that the place can be properly done. We used to have green area there and we will restore it.”
Speaking on the Gedegede community in Lekki Phase 2, the commissioner said the ministry received petitions about the unwholesome practices of some developers who have converted the right of way to lands and built on them, exposing other property owners to danger.
Receiving the environment team, Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abdul Wasiu Lawal, thanked the men for their efforts to restore the greenery of Lagos.
The monarch described the team as very resourceful, and gave kudos to governor Babajide Sanwo Olu, for assembling them.
The monarch also requested a partnership with the state government to establish a green park in Iru Kingdom, saying about 15,000 square metres has been set aside for the purpose.
Rotimi-Akodu, in his remarks, expressed regrets that most business owners and companies were non-challant in clearing their drainages, leaving the infractions for government to clear.
He charged residents to compliment the all-year round clearing of primary and secondary channels by cleaning the tertiary drains at the frontage of their homes and business places regularly.
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