The Lagos State Government on Tuesday assured residents of its committed to proffer a lasting solution to the issue of flooding across the state as the rains begin to come down.
The government said special attention is being paid to cleaning and clearing canals and heavily clogged up drains throughout the state which has aided flooding of such areas.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello gave the assurance on Tuesday when he went on an inspection tour of on-going clearing of drains in the state.
Bello who was accompanied by Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Mr Joe Igbokwe and Permanent Secretary, Drainage, Engineer Olalekan Shodeinde and other senior officials in the ministry.
Speaking with newsmen during an inspection tour, Bello stated that the cleaning have been designed to ensure that water flows through all the Drainage channels unhindered all year round.
He stated that the ongoing clearing and dredging of all Drainage channels across the state would continue till September.
He explained that the tour became necessary so as to ascertain the true state of drains and canals and resolve every problem identified while listening to the residents.
According to him, “I will like to appeal to all residents to take good care of these canals and drains as the government is cleaning them, kindly take ownership and do away from encroaching canals and drains right of way”.
Some of the areas visited include Yaya Abatan Drainage channel by Ajobo street, Iju Road collector drain/Alamutu collector (Fagba-Gudugba), Ajuwon River by Iju/Ajuwon bridge, Ilo River Upstream ( by Toll Gate, Ifako Ijaiye).
Others are Pipeline collector Drain Idimu, Irepodun collector Drain Idimu, IPI/Ikotun Channel by Ikotun, Abeokuta Anjorin Channel/ Egbe Stream by Egbe Bridge, Guinness Idi Mangoro collector drain Agege and Oko-Oba Channel.
He directed that the Iju Road collector drain/Alamutu collector (Fagba-Gudugba) should be revisited with extra dredging, directing all illegal structures constructed on the alignment be removed.
He explained that the ongoing clearing of Ajuwon River, by Iju/Ajuwon bridge is necessary so as to link up with Yaya Abatan Drainage channel by Ajobo street for the free flow of water, adding that the sawmill erected on the canal would have to give way.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser on the Drainage Services, Engr Joe Igbokwe said resident engineers from the ministry will always be around to work with the CDAs to ensure adequate monitoring after the completion of the clearing and cleaning exercise.
The Permanent Secretary, Drainage services who also spoke, called on all residents whose buildings were on governments drainage alignment to be prepared to vacate such buildings as the government will not relent in its effort to ensure a flood-free Lagos.
The Chairman, of Ilo Awela Community Development Association in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government, Mr. Emmanuel Ajayi expressed great appreciation to the government for the clearing of Ilo River Upstream ( by Toll Gate, Ifako Ijaiye) adding that residents already have a committee in place to monitor the drains against refuse dumping.
He said ever since the project commenced, flooding challenges residents usually experienced in the past has reduced drastically and loss of lives and property is now a thing of the past in the community.
