NSE official advises Lagos residents to relocate homes built on drainage channels

Mr Olalekan Taiwo, the Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Apapa Branch, has advised Lagos residents, who have built houses on drainage systems to relocate their homes before the rainy season begins.

Taiwo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that people with houses built on drainage channels were at risk of becoming victims flood victims during the rainy season.

The engineer said that both the residents and the state government needed to do the right thing early enough to avert flood.

“If you know that you have built on drainage channels, start making plans to move.

“And for those who have not done that, do not put your garbage, your refuse, in drainage channels because what goes around, comes around.

“And for government, it should do a lot of sensitisation, government should not apply sentiments.

“If certain structures have been placed on drainage (channels), they should not hesitate to pull it down after following due process.

“They should advise citizens on how well to live especially those in flood-prone areas.’’

He stated that as a coastal state, Lagos is a flood-prone area.

He, therefore, urged residents of the state to take adequate measures that would help prevent flood.