Lagos authorities instruct illegal building owners in Lekki to evacuate within seven days
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources in Lagos State, Tokunbo Wahab, has issued a seven-day contravention notice to building owners along Orchid Road, Agungi, Ajiran, Conservation Road, Osapa, all situated along the Ikota River. This announcement was made by Kunle Adesina, the Director of Public Affairs for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, in a post on Monday in Lagos.
Adesina conveyed that Wahab, accompanied by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, declared the notice after conducting an inspection tour of the Ikota River corridor. The purpose of the tour was to assess the extent of compliance among property owners whose buildings and fences encroach within the approved seven-meter setback on both sides of the channel.
Simultaneously, the commissioner encouraged residents to adhere to the State Drainage Master Plan in order to prevent property demolition. Emphasizing the firm commitment of the state to enforce the law and regain drainage setbacks, he reiterated that there would be no reversal of this decision after the expiration of the issued notices.
The commissioner noted that the Nigerian Conservation Foundation had previously submitted a petition expressing concerns about various distortions, highlighting significant disruptions on their roads.
He observed that the distortion had a detrimental impact on the natural habitat of animals within the foundation and on Orchid Road, where considerable harm had been inflicted on the drainage channel intended to channel stormwater from the communities into the Lagoon.
He explained that the state government had adopted a considerate approach in reclaiming the drainage right of way, leading to a reassessment of the setback alignment from the initial seven meters to six meters. This adjustment followed a meeting with property owners, aiming to minimize the number of structures affected.
"We cannot continually criticize the government for flooding issues when developers, builders, and residents are the primary contributors to flooding," he remarked.
"We will persist in enforcement because that is the purpose of creating laws. Development is impossible without law and order. It's time to put an end to this unacceptable behavior," stated Wahab.
The commissioner and his team also inspected Oral Estate II along system 156 Igbo Efon, revealing that the Primary Channel had been completely obstructed by unauthorized structures lacking drainage approvals.
The commissioner also toured Agungi, Ajiran, and Osapa, areas where notices had been previously issued. He mentioned that final decisions would be made after assessing the extent of encroachment regarding the setbacks of the Primary Channel and Secondary Collectors in those locations.
He clarified that the original setback for the System 156 Ikota River channel was 46 meters, but property owners and residents along the corridor have reduced the size.
Wahab proceeded to Chevron Drive, where he issued a cease-and-desist order to Gravitas company, the proprietors of Grace Ville Island & Pocket Island, for undertaking sand filling activities on a section of Ikota River. This action resulted in a reduction of the lagoon size from the originally planned 250 meters, which was designed to facilitate the unobstructed flow of water.
"The lagoon serves as a natural pathway. Some individuals have begun reclamation efforts to cover and narrow this pathway. However, attempting to narrow the water's course is perilous; if done, water will naturally find an alternative route, posing a danger to everyone," remarked Wahab.
Adesina reported that earlier in the day, Wahab oversaw the removal of shanties on Thompson Avenue in response to residents' complaints. The concerns were about the presence of unfamiliar individuals and women engaging in questionable activities along the streets at night, posing a security threat to the entire state and particularly the Ikoyi area.
"At 6 a.m. today, we observed a situation that was beyond imagination. Consequently, we took action to dismantle these unauthorized structures, carry out evacuations, make arrests, and bring charges to court. By tomorrow, we anticipate complete control and ownership of the land," he explained.
He called on all squatters to promptly relocate, emphasizing the state's commitment to eliminating shanties and addressing environmental violations across the landscape.
He further stated, "We will not tolerate individuals who have no legitimate reason to be in the state becoming environmental nuisances and posing security risks."
The Special Adviser on Environment highlighted that despite Lagos' unique characteristics, such as being a coastal state with low-lying terrains and high population density, the government has implemented various measures to ensure the state's resilience.
He elaborated on the state government's initiative, which involves year-round cleaning and maintenance, dredging of drainage channels/canals, and the construction of new drainages where needed. The objective is to provide a permanent solution to the issue of flooding throughout the state.
He advocated for active citizen engagement in governance and encouraged full participation from communities and government bodies at all levels. This, he emphasized, is crucial for achieving significant enhancements in environmental sanitation, maintenance, and the creation of a sustainable environment.
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