Lagos warns against patronising pushcarts for waste disposal

• Says Illegal-dredging causes flash floods

Lagos residents have been urged to desist from patronising pushcarts in disposing their waste to avoid environmental pollution and check flooding.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, made the plea at Agboyi Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos, Alapere, during a sensitisation programme to ensure a flood free Lagos.

Addressing Community leaders, Oke-Osanyintolu, noted that most pushcarts dump refuse indiscriminately, and the refuse usually find their way back into drainage channels, blocking them and causing flooding when it rains.

He expressed optimism that with the people-oriented policies of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, casualties caused by floods would be a thing of the past.

The PS announced that 144 housing units resettlement facility is available at Agbowa area of Ikorodu to rehabilitate those affected by flood.

On his part, Chairman of Agboyi Ketu LCDA, Dele Oshinowo, who noted that the Council is prone to flooding because of its terrain, advocated special funding to assist victims of environmental challenges.

While appreciating the efforts of the state government in its intervention programmes, the Council boss enjoined residents to abide by environmental rules and regulations to avoid disasters.

Oshinowo disclosed that as part of efforts to check flooding, the Council has been dredging canals in the axis to ensure free flow of floodwater.

Also, the Agency has taken its sensitisation on flooding to Eti-Osa Local Council.

At the programme tagged: “Flood Free Lagos 2023: Building Flood Resilience is a Collective Responsibility”, held at Eti-Osa Council secretariat, Oke-Osanyintolu, assured residents that the state would continue to put measures in place to prevent flooding in the state.

While noting that Eti-Osa is vulnerable to climate change and ocean surge, he urged residents to desist from dumping refuse in drainage channels, due to its closeness to the lagoon.
He stressed that a stakeholders’ engagement will be held next week to identify challenges in Eti-Osa and proffer permanent solutions.

Environmental Supervisor of Eti-Osa Local Council, Balogun Sharafa, identified illegal dredging activities and reclamation of land as the major factors causing flash floods in the area and appealed to the state to come to their aid to prevent their properties from being submerged in flood anytime it rains.

The sensitisation programme, which had been held in Lagos West and Lagos Central, will also be held in Lagos East Senatorial District of the state.