The Lagos State Government on Thursday issued a 48 hours ultimatum to traders operating under Apogbon Bridge and traders operating on the drainage setbacks on Lagos Island to vacate preparatory to the commencement of urban regeneration of Lagos Island.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab issued the notice while addressing the media after an inspection tour to Savage/Elegbata Bombata Drainage channel around Olowogbowo/ Apongbon axis in Lagos Island.
He said negative human activities in the axis massively contributed to flooding and posed a serious threat to lives and properties.
He explained that the tour became necessary because it was observed that the setback of these two critical drainage collectors which are Bombata / Olusi and the Alagbafo collector have been converted into shops/stalls, adding that these channels were initially not captured in the Lagos Island regeneration process and this can hamper the success of the regeneration.
“I have instructed that the shop/stall owners be served abatement notice; We are going to clear these infractions and keep the maintenance work going while ensuring that the contract is revisited to accommodate these two collectors” he said.
Wahab, who observed during the inspection that traders selling livestocks have also converted under Apongbon bridge to a ranch and livestock market, thereafter ordered an immediate relocation of the livestock traders to designated markets saying they are contributors to blockade to the two collectors in the area.
According to him, “What we saw is not something that we are happy about. People have fully built on setback and drainage channels and when you build structures on these infrastructure, how do you expect these infrastructure to be maintained”
“We have abused these infrastructure and I have given directives to the appropriate department to serve notice of abatement and if compliance is not carried out enforcement will commence” he added
He said the government cannot fold its hands and allow anyone turn Lagos state to an Hobbesian state where life becomes Nasty, Brutish and Short saying that infrastructure are built for public use but some people turned them to their shops and the state government will stop the bad behaviors right away.
He said all concerned stall owners would be served contravention/abatement notices while the Ministry officials would come back to monitor the level of compliance after 48 hours.
The Commissioner warned developers and residents that dump building materials on the roads and drainage channels causing serious blockage to natural flow of water to desist from such acts while ordering the immediate sealing of two buildings under construction , one on Alakoro Martins Street (No 109) and another one in Ebute Ero market for dumping of building materials on the drainage channels.
According to him, “the building were sealed because they stacked their building materials on the drainage system and this is illegal because they block the drainage system in the process; Such offenders will be required to remove the materials and clean the drainage system before they are unsealed.”
The Commissioner used the opportunity to inform market operators that they must ensure that shop owners maintain designated market spaces as allocated by the Local Governments, adding that the Local Governments and the state Government will always work in synergy.
“We work with the Local Governments although there are little gaps that need to be ironed out; the market are extensively under the Local Government adding that this does not give them the right to infringe on environmental laws of the state that provides for a setback between a collector and a building and this is what we are going to enforce.”
The commissioner emphasised that the Government will not rest on its oars but would continue to ramp up the enforcement and advocacy and enlightenment, emphasizing that the protection of the environment is a collective effort between government and the people.
“We will continue in our advocacy and enforcement but some people are just recalcitrant and for these set of people, they believe government will never come but whenever we notice infractions, we will remove them; we are always very slow to wield the big stick but we would emphasize on advocacy and enlightenment,” he stressed.
He mentioned that the enforcement of ban on Styrofoam is still an ongoing process across the state adding that the enforcement team had recorded 92% compliance in regard to styrofoam ban and the government would continue to ramp up enforcement before the commencement of the next phase which is the ban of single use plastic.
The Commissioner in response to a resolution by the House of Assembly regarding stealing of manholes noted that the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources and Ministry of Works and Infrastructure are working together to address the issue adding and working on how to put an end to this nefarious activity.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu advised traders to always operate in designated market spaces and avoid defacing the environment by trading on drainage channels, road medians, kerbs, highways amongst others
He implored residents to always take ownership of all infrastructure and the environment by preventing indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainage channels/roads, trading on the roads amongst others, stressing that it is the responsibility of all residents to maintain the environment to ensure its sustainability.
The Commissioner was accompanied by Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Permanent Secretaries, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji and Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; MD LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin; GM LASWAMO, Engr. Femi Afolabi; Executive director Operations, Lagos Water Corporation, Engr Lanke Taiwo, Executive director LAWMA, Kunle Adebiyi and other directors in the Ministry.
Places visited include Savage/Elegbata Drainage channel which cut across Cole Street, Savage Lane, George Street, Abu Lane, Apongbon underbridge and Olowogbowo area; Ebute Ero /Okearin/ Alakoro Martins drains collector.
