NaijaPositive.com

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Lagos Defloods Drainage Channels

Vanguard
Olasunkanmi Akoni
26 July 2007

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has approved immediate evacuation of about 1,599km of some Primary, Secondary and Tertiary drainage Channels in the state.

The state government also warned that any resident caught dumping refuse into drainage channels would be prosecuted henceforth according to the state Sanitation Laws.

Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Muiz Banire who disclosed this stated that the state government came up with the "Emergency Deflooding Programme" due to the heavy flooding witnessed in some parts of the state within the last few weeks, which it had to respond to immediately, adding that it was part of government effort to combat the menace of flood as well as fulfill its electioneering campaign promises to the people of the state.

The drainage approved by the state government include the following areas: Dredging of system 3 Drainage Channel at Ebute-Metta which consist of Oyadiran Estate, Commercial avenue, Iwaya and Mokoko; the dredging of system 4, Drainage Channel at Yaba, which consist of Tejuosho, Murtala/Muhammed Way, Railway Compound, Oke-Ira; the dredging of Ketu/Alapere Drainage Channel; dredging of Ekoro Drainage Channel at Agege; dredging of Ologolo/Iiasan Drainage Channel, along Lekki Axis; dredging of Irede/Ira Drainage Channel.

Others are Dolphin/Osborne Outfall Channel, maintenance of Lagos Island collectors, which consist of all collectors and outfalls in Apapa and maintenance of Lagos Mainland collectors which will take care of the critical problems at Ebute-Metta.

He explained that the heavy flooding witnessed in Lagos is not peculiar to the state alone, but that it is a global phenomena due to the depletion of the melting Ice and the Ozone layer, leading to high intensity of rainfall all over the world.

Banire further stated that, flooding incidence witnessed in some parts of the state has not been due to neglect on the part of the state but the global climatic conditions and the living habits of Lagos residents that compounded the problems.

He added that flooding in the state has also been attributed to the general high intensity of rainfall and rise in the Lagoon level, which automatically locks up the existing Channels noting that it is only when the Lagoon recedes that the water level can go down.

The commissioner also disclosed that henceforth, drainage projects to be executed by the ministry, will involve the benefitting communities who are expected to help protect government investment during and after execution.

The government will also involve the Community Development Association (CDA'S) Landlord/Resident Associations, NGO'S and Neighborhood watch in all programmes to be executed by the government to make the people monitor of government projects.

Copyright © 2007 Vanguard

_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm