Lagos State Government, yesterday, reiterated its commitment to upgrade and build resilient drainage infrastructure to prevent flooding across the state.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, while speaking with newsmen after an assessment tour to check the progress of work regarding the Lagos Island regeneration project, ongoing drainage projects at Onikoyi Banana Island and Femi Pedro Avenue in Park View Estate, said that when the urban regeneration project is completed, it would address the flooding issues in the whole of Lagos Island and environs .
“We came to Lagos Island to see the level of compliance and the level of work that is being done by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, as well as the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), in respect of the regeneration projects of Lagos Island and we are happy with the pace at which the projects are going,” he said.
Wahab also inspected the ongoing project (Secondary Collector drain lining) around Gorodom Market, expressing satisfaction with the level of work that had been done.
He, alongside his team, further visited Ikoyi following investigations around Turnbull/ Banana Island Road, which has been prone to flash- flooding, stating that the investigations observed there was a blocked underground culvert around the Shoreline, off Turnbull entrance.
“The last heavy rain affected Banana Island Road into Turnbull and we have done remedial work and carried out an upgrade of the infrastructure,” he said.
According to him, the level of development on Banana Island Road has overwhelmed the tertiary drains in place; the government may have to make one of them a secondary collector so it can discharge Shoreline and Banana Island Road into the collector at Mojisola Onikoyi and then into the lagoon.
The team also inspected two other locations, which are Underbridge Idumagbo and under the Third Mainland Bridge, along Oja Oba Street, off Adeniji Adele Road where enforcements had earlier been carried out but it was observed that the traders are back, thereby ordering that they vacate the places immediately.
He mentioned that the government never wanted to disrupt traders’ economic activities adding that they had been warned not to sell under major infrastructure but they are recalcitrant and continued to engage in commercial activities under the bridge.
He explained that the Idumagbo Underbridge was cleared of illegal structures earlier in the year but the traders were allowed to do their trading in a way that it will not impede the flow and the aesthetics of that area.
According to him, when you want to trade under major infrastructure, we have to be very careful. It becomes the case of the chicken and the egg. Which comes first? Do we put that commercial interest over safety, environment and security interests?
He said if the traders wish to come back, the process has to be regulated and not under the bridges, saying if anything happens, the people will judge the government for abandoning its responsibility, forgetting that the citizens also have responsibilities.
“We are saying we won’t disrupt your lifestyle, your commercial activities, but in a very organised way, you can do your trading. But what we met here today is not organised. So, we are going to close the space and ask for a layout on how they want to organise themselves.”
He said that some individuals had shown interest in transforming Underbridges into parks and Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) had given them the design of what to do, saying that it is compulsory for traders to leave the place immediately and the place will be cordoned off.
Wahab and the team proceeded to Parkview Estate to assess the ongoing drainage projects that is expected to drain storm water from Femi Pedro Avenue into the lagoon, adding that the contractor is expected to wrap up within the next 90 days.
“We had to come so we can see for ourselves the level of work and see what the contractors have done over time. We are satisfied with this major project, which is a discharging point for Parkview,” he added.
He stressed that Lagos, being a coastal state, is exposed to the vagaries of climate change such as sea level rise, excessive heat and excessive rainfall, saying the government must mitigate by not allowing the human element to block the drainage infrastructure.
Also, a former Deputy Governor, Femi Pedro, expressed great appreciation to the government for the upgraded drainage infrastructure in Parkview Estate.
He said the secondary collector drains at Parkview (Olufemi Pedro Avenue and Agodogba Estate) are much bigger and deeper now, and flooding issues would become a thing of the past in the area.
“Residents of Parkview Estate should be rest assured that this project would proffer a lasting solution to flooding in this area when delivered in three months’ time. We, the residents too, would ensure we take ownership of it.”
