Flooding: Lagos pledges to clear clogged drains

Lagos State government has pledged to clear clogged drains in the state to allow free flow of rain water and avert flooding.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the pledge, when he led the Special Adviser, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, and two Permanent Secretaries, to inspect some ongoing drainage projects and channels in the state.

Wahab assured that special attention would be paid to heavily clogged up drains, and urged residents to desist from unwholesome dumping of refuse in canals and drainage channels, as well as construction on drainage setbacks and alignments.

He reiterated the administration’s readiness to proffer lasting solutions to flooding across the state, asking residents to be ready to play their part, bearing in mind that Lagos is a coastal city that is bound to experience flash flood.

He said: “I will like to assure residents that the government is not resting on its oars, we are determined to build reliable and excellent infrastructure, and will not do a shoddy job.

“I appeal to residents to be patient with us on some of the ongoing projects whose completion have been delayed by inclement weather,” Wahab said.

He also urged Lagosians to take ownership of canals and drains in their localities, even as the government cleans and maintains them, rather than encroach on canals and drainages right of way.

Responding to a question on the completion date for the mega pump station at Ilubirin, which is expected to drain water from flooded depressed areas of Ojo Giwa, Oroyinyin and Idumagbo, in Central Lagos, Wahab said although the contractor gave nine months, he would ensure that it is fast-tracked and completed before the stipulated date.

The commissioner also assured residents of Akinola Aboru in Alimosho area that their complaints on the major channel construction are duly noted, and would be addressed as the project progresses.

He said the tour, which also had the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Lekan Shodeinde, and his Environmental Services counterpart, Gaji Omobolajim in attendance, was to ascertain the true state of the canals and drains, as well as identify problems, while listening to feedbacks from residents.

The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, appealed to Lagosians, especially market women, to desist from dumping refuse in the drains and canals, warning that their actions portend danger to everyone.

Shodeinde, on his part, explained that the expansive 10km Aboru-Akinola canal project is presently at 40 per cent completion stage due to some delays being experienced by the contractor and as a result of persistent rain.