Wahab decries poor maintenance of Lagos Island roads

Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, yesterday, expressed concern over the deteriorating state of roads on Lagos Island.

During an inspection of ongoing and new projects in Lagos Island and its environs, the commissioner highlighted the impact of poor human behaviour on the infrastructure.

He noted that urban renewal across Lagos Island had become necessary to effectively address the problem of flooding, which had posed a serious threat to lives and properties in the area.
Wahab recalled that in the recent past, Julius Berger was awarded the contract to build appropriate infrastructures on the Island, saying that human behaviour and interaction over time clogged the drainage system, leading to the Governor re-awarding the road and drainage infrastructure in the area.

He said: “This tour became necessary as the Governor has re-awarded the regeneration of the total infrastructure of Lagos Island; we need to ensure the contractors are ready to commence and see if the contract period can be abridged and thus reduce the delivery time to 18 months or less instead of the initial 24 months projects delivery.”

He said the state government would continue to provide requisite infrastructure, but the citizens must take ownership of these infrastructures with a mind that it is for all good.

The commissioner stressed that there is no going back on the commencement of a total ban on single-use plastics from the beginning of January, adding that littering, especially with styrofoam, has reduced drastically compared to when enforcement of its prohibition initially started.

In the New Year, he said that the ministry would continue its advocacy for attitudinal change, adding that citizens must know that to experience change, attitudes towards the environment must also positively change.

The Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the work on the pumping station projects at Ilubirin, adding that the station will be energised within the next 10 days for test running.

According to him, the massive Ilubirin water pump project is the most critical part of the regeneration process majorly to deflood Lagos Island and its Environs, adding that all drainages in Lagos Island would discharge into the Lagoon through these pumps, stressing that these measures would permanently curb the menace of flooding in the areas.

The Commissioner warned developers and residents that dump building materials on the roads and drainage channels, causing severe blockage to natural water flow to desist from such acts.
He also ordered the immediate sealing of three buildings on Adeniji Adele Road, which are Number 65, 68 and 124, for dumping of building materials on the drainage channels.

On his part, the Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, noted that the urban regeneration of Lagos Island is the lasting solution to the menace of flooding in the area.
He stressed that the government would not relentlessly fulfil its responsibility of maintaining a flood-free and clean environment.

Rotimi-Akodu appealed to residents of Lagos Island to support the government when the project commences because it will benefit all and create a sustainable environment.