Flooding: Lagos Begins Demolition Of Houses In Ishashi, Oke-Odan, Ojo

The Lagos State Government will today (Thursday) begin the demolition of houses sitting on the right-of-way of all drainage channels in Ishashi, Oke-Odan, and Ojo area.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, stated this when he undertook an on-the-spot assessment of some drainage channels in the state on Wednesday.

Wahab said the government was determined to restore the environment from all sorts of infractions that had altered the landscape.

He noted that the government had awarded contract on restoration project in the axis in order to accomplish the task of making Lagos flood-free.

“The governor has awarded contract for the restoration of some critical projects on this axis around Ishashi, Oke-Odan, where we have witnessed people purposely building on the channel.

“They have been served notices; so we have to start enforcement along with the contractor who is ready to move to site,” Wahab said.

He said that all concerned had been served contravention notices which had elapsed and as such, enforcement would commence on  Thursday, September 5.

He said the law would take its full course as it was observed that some people along the System 40 drainage channel in Ojo Local government Area have built on the canal path and narrowed the primary channel.

He said the development had led to incidents of flooding in the axis.

He stressed that the government would not back down on the enforcement, adding that it would ensure that seven metres drainage setback on all drainage channels were restored.

The commissioner said that 15 metres drainage setback is the standard right-of-way to be restored at Alaba International Market outfall.

He, however, said that the House of Assembly member representing the area, Mr Olusegun Ege, who was also present on the tour,  advocated for less than 10 metres to be observed.

“This is just to let people know we are not dropping the ball and the weather has been very favourable so we have no excuse than to just move to the site.

“We will clean up the drains and restore the right-of-way and then take ownership of the public infrastructure.