… Insists That Residents Of Low Lying Areas Must Relocate To Higher Grounds
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday allayed the fears of residents regarding the release of water from Oyan Dam,
assuring that necessary measures are in place to effectively manage the floods.
Addressing the media after an extensive tour of areas affected by the staggered water release, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab insisted that property owners and residents of low-lying areas must relocate to high grounds as the water is systemically released.
The Commissioner explained that the Ministry had engaged in massive advocacy in respect to the release of water in the past few weeks, urging residents not to compromise their safety and properties.
He said the government is concerned about the sanitary situation of the neighbourhoods as residents practise open defecation and other unsanitary activities in the open water, saying this is unwholesome and will result in serious negative impacts thereafter.
Reiterating that the State Government fully recognizes the challenges faced by residents of the affected communities and empathises with them because they are taxpayers, Wahab informed that the state government has awarded some drainage construction projects to mitigate the effects of the flooding.
He added that the team was visiting Isheri North GRA for the second time in 12 months, promising that the government would get a final solution and that the suggestion by residents to dredge a particular canal would be effectively executed.
Wahab recalled that to reduce the flood and ensure the free flow of water within the Ogun River system, the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) Ogun State Government recently commenced the dredging of the Ogun River downstream from the Ikorodu to Isheri axis (Ajelogo, Owode-Elede, Ajegunle, and deck-on-pile of Itowolo Bridge).
He noted that over 52 tributaries discharge into Lagos Lagoon, which is a major contributor to the prevalence of flooding and appreciated the Federal Government for awarding the Ogun River downstream project, saying the two states of Lagos and Ogun would continue to collaborate on ways to resolve the issue permanently.
He added that as part of measures to prevent flooding in the axis and environs, there is an ongoing extensive construction of a 3.7 km outfall channel and secondary collectors on Gberigbe Road which cut across Abule Eko / Ijede/ Igbopa – London Road in Ikorodu jointly by the State and Federal Governments
During the tour, the team also visited Primate Oshibajo Road, Agbede Transformer / Omolaiye community Ikorodu to find a lasting solution to the erosion experienced in the area, informing that the drainage contract that will solve the problem has already been awarded.
He assured the residents that the contractor would move to the site very soon in order to construct another major secondary collector to complement the existing one so that stormwater could discharge appropriately into the stream without delay.
Wahab added that the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure would also be invited to construct proper road infrastructure in that neighbourhood, saying with these measures, flooding will be a thing of the past in the community and environs.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Engineer Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, who accompanied the Commissioner, urged Lagosians not to entertain fears because the State Government would continue to map out strategies to contain flooding that may be experienced at any point in time.
He advised residents to always be safety conscious, appealing to residents of low-lying areas to relocate to higher grounds.
Also on the team was the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite and some Directors from the Ministry.
