LASG to begin removal of shanties on drainage setback in Lagos Island Tuesday
Following the expiration of the 48 hours quit notice issued to the stall owners last week, the Lagos State Government on Sunday said it would begin full enforcement of removal of stalls/shanties under Apongbon Bridge and on the setback of Savage/Elegbata/Bombata drainage channel in Lagos Island on Tuesday.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab made this known while speaking with journalists at Ebute-Ero after an inspection tour of the Savage/Elegbata Bombata Drainage channel around the Olowogbowo/Apongbon axis in Lagos Island.
He said the government would remove all the shanties impeding drainage channels in the best interest of all residents.
Wahab explained that the state officials repeated the tour to ascertain the level of compliance by stall owners/traders operating on drainage channels/setbacks with the quit notice issued to them.
“We came to ascertain the level of compliance concerning the abatement notices served on Thursday to ensure that statutorily we have fulfilled what is required according to the law and this will be followed by enforcement activities on Tuesday”, he said.
The Commissioner explained that the enforcement activities will include the removal of any extension that impedes public infrastructure within the drainage channels, emphasising that any building not erected on drainage alignments will not be touched.
He stated further that the government has observed that most people are recalcitrant when it comes to obeying laws as such stall owners and traders who may be nursing plans of coming back to the cleared setbacks will not be allowed because LASPARK would take over the space immediately for sustenance and beautification.
The Commissioner also frowned at the behaviour of a lot of contractors who were in the habit of dumping building materials on the constructed drains thereby disrupting the free flow of stormwater.
“People dump building materials on the road and drainage channels; their mixers and cement are also on the road and in the process they destroy infrastructure and these same set of people accuse the Government of not doing the right thing”, he said.
The Commissioner stated that he had instructed all the buildings under construction and dumping materials on the road on Oke-Arin, Abibu-Oki, and around Ebute Ero market be sealed while the materials must be carted away before they will be re-opened.
Wahab said the state government will continue to appeal to the people and step up its advocacy campaigns, saying “But for those that are recalcitrant, they will continue to face the law to serve as an example to others”.
According to him, the Ministry will not only engage in the advocacy approach but would also adequately use enforcement and deal with offenders according to the environmental Laws of the State.
“We will use the carrot and stick approach, appeal to people to align with our reasoning; we know that some people will be recalcitrant and they will be made examples for others to learn from” he added.
“People must learn to protect the environment and remember that the government will not fold its arms and watch the environment destroyed; the wheels of judgement may be slow but will definitely grind to a halt one day” he said.
The Commissioner was accompanied by Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; GM of LASWAMO, Engr. Femi Afolabi and other directors in the Ministry.
Places visited include the Savage/Elegbata Drainage channel which cuts across Cole Street, Savage Lane, George Street, Abu Lane, Apongbon underbridge and Olowogbowo area, as well as Ebute Ero/Okearin/Alakoro Martins drains collector.
