*Orders property house owners to maneuver or face demolition
Segun James
The Lagos state Authorities has warned house owners of properties in Apapa waterfront space that it’s going to begin demolition.
The choice follows the expiration of the ultimatum on the graduation of enforcement operations in Apapa to re-establish the three metres drainage Proper of Manner for all its drainage channels yesterday.
Talking with newsmen after an inspection tour to test the extent of compliance, the Commissioner for the Atmosphere and Water Assets, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, mentioned the enforcement actions is coming after the expiration of notices and convening of stakeholders conferences with the property house owners to voluntarily transfer their fences that fall throughout the drainage setback earlier within the 12 months.
He mentioned the Ministry had served contravention notices to the buildings on the Drainge setbacks including that for a number of years, the ministry has not been capable of entry the eight main collectors for maintanence function attributable to encroachment which is a serious contributor to flooding points being skilled within the Apapa.
He mentioned the state Authorities was decided to discovering a long-lasting answer to the flooding points in Apapa whereas directing that enforcement officers to make sure that all contravening properties are faraway from the drainage Proper of manner in accordance with the three metres required by legislation assuring that the State is not going to cherrypick properties throughout the enforcement course of.
“We wish to test the state of collectors in Apapa with a view to evacuate and deal with the Collectors; the entire of the Collectors on this space are blocked and the suitable of manner taken over by people who moved their fences with a view to aquire further land thereby denying us entry to the drains” he mentioned.
The Commissioner in firm of the Particular Adviser on Atmosphere, Mr kunle Rotimi-Akodu; Everlasting Secretary , Workplace of Drainage Providers, Engr Mahamood Adegbite; Common Supervisor, LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi; Managing Director, LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegeshin and a few Administrators visited Pele Wura Collector drain,Abayomi Collector drain, Aerodrome Collector drain, all within the Apapa space of the State.
The Commissioner additionally inspected Rock Drive in Lekki I following a serious criticism that some people engaged in conversion of a purely residential space right into a diesel depot directing speedy enforcement saying that the unlawful depot poses the danger of a serious fireplace outbreak within the space.
He directed the Lagos State Environmental Safety Company (LASEPA) to seal up the property whereas the Kick Towards Indiscipline (KAI) officers demolished and arrested people discovered on the unlawful shanties constructed across the depot and therafter tow away the diesel vans and autos stationed on the unlawful depot.
He additionally visited Aunty Ayo Collector drain in Ikoyi the place he expressed satisfaction with the continuing cleansing of the drainage channels sounding a word of warning to residents who often have interaction within the unwholesome acts of indiscriminate refuse dumping to desist from such act at the same time as wet season is right here.
“Allow us to praise Governments effort in guaranteeing that lagos is a flood free state by being first rate in our waste disposal behaviour” he mentioned.
He hinted that following the expiration of relocation notices issued to all squatters occupying unlawful shanties across the Lagos coastal street in Mayegun, Lekki space of Lagos, enforcement will begin totally subsequent week.
The Particular Adviser on Atmosphere, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu mentioned Authorities is set to discover a real looking answer to the flooding situation throughout the state by embarking on all 12 months spherical drainage cleansing measures to regulate flooding.
He added that it’s mandatory for residents to additionally clear the tertiary drains that run throughout residences recurrently whereas the Ministry has been persistently de-silting and dealing on varied linkages to the secondary and first channels to allow them discharge effectively.
