Dredging of major canals, drainages begins

IN readiness for more rainwater and attendant flooding,‎ the Lagos State government has begun the dredging of major canals across the 57 Local Government Area and Local Council Development Areas (LGA/LCDAs).

The government, which expressed concern on flooding in some parts of the state, said the development was due to intensity of the rain and not inadequate drainages complained about by the residents.

Permanent Secretary (PS), Office of Drainage Services, Ministry of the Environment, Ayodeji Adenekan, said existing canals only needed to be dredged and cleared of refuse to accommodate coming flash floods.

Some of the drainages currently dredged are: System 1 Ikeja, Kobiti-Mushin, Itire, Oduselu-Mushin water collector among others.

‎Adenekan blamed the flash floods recorded in some parts of the state on blockage of the drains by refuse, saying refuse dumped in the drains hinders free flow of water.

He appealed to the residents and motorists to be patient as government was doing everything possible to address the problem.

The PS added that government might be forced to deploy Kick Against Indiscipline ‎(KAI) officers to the major canals and drainage channels across the state to monitor and ensure that nobody dumps refuse in the drainage channels.

It would be recalled that the state government some days ago alerted residents in some parts of the state on the need to relocate due to risen water level in the Lagoon and rivers.

Areas on the red alert are Ajegunle, Owode-Onirin axis, Owode-Elelede, Kuramo beach, Alpha beach, Okun-mapo, Okun Ajah, Mende-Maryland, Ijora-Badia and Iwaya.