The Lagos State Government, on Thursday, said it was “yielding” to the “plea” of owners of property on drainage setbacks in some areas of the state to explore the option of dialogue in order to prevent further demolitions.
The state’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement, said the government would “be humane in its approach to reclaim the drainage right of way.”
Speaking with some residents and owners of property on drainage setbacks on the corridor of Lekki County, Ikota GRA, Megamunds Estate, Ajiran, Agungi, Orchid, Oral II and their environs at a meeting in Alausa, Wahab reiterated the government’s resolve to reclaim and re-establish drainage setbacks which had either been completely blocked or converted into access roads by some residents.
He said the government was “yielding to their plea to be given time to come up with workable options that will reestablish the setbacks without demolitions.”
“The state government would be humane in its approach to reclaim the drainage right of way and we will give property owners and residents the opportunity to proffer a solution to the reclaiming of the setback till a particular date in order to reduce the number of structures that would be affected,” Wahab added.
He explained to the representatives of Megamunds Estate that System 44A which cuts across Ikota GRA and Megamunds is a 19.5-metre (width) channel but had been blocked by Ikota GRA and Lekki County property owners and residents.
He added that the government would re-establish the 31-metre drainage alignment and the six-metre setback on both sides would be recovered to find a realistic solution to the flooding in the areas.
He further stated that all property owners whose fences fell within the drainage setback would be served mandatory contravention notices as the law demands while enforcement would be the last option.
During the meeting, affected property owners pleaded with the commissioner to temper justice with mercy and grant the residents the opportunity to come up with possible solutions to salvage the situation.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
