Lagos State Government has said it will soon embark on demolition of illegal structures built on drainage channels in the state.
Commissioner for Environment Mr. Tunji Bello who made the revelation today while monitoring the environmental sanitation exercise in Agboyi –Ketu Local Council Development Area said the illegal structures are blocking free flow of water in the area.
”There are many natural wetlands in the council and people have erected structures on the wetlands. A lot of demolition will have to go on in those areas. There are many houses that have to be demolished. Places where structures shouldn’t have been erected, residents have done that. There is no way that can continue in Lagos.
“That area has already been marked for demolition. And we have all seen that a lot of houses will have to be pulled down. We saw many houses erected on this canals already sinking. We cannot allow this to continue in Lagos state.
“In the past, the wetland in Agboyi-Ketu was very beautiful but today people have encroached on these wetlands. And this is a two-way issue. If one encroaches on such land, nature will strike back”. The commissioner explained that if nature is allowed to strike, a lot of lives will be lost, saying the government will soon embark on massive construction and dredging of canals in the state.
“ Last year the drainages were dredged effectively. That was why at that place when I was addressing the residents, I told them that we are disappointed with the level of sanitation. The government can only support them to some certain level. But the government will not encourage dumping of refuse into the canals.
“However, we will go back and dredge the canals again. The resident must then play their own part by ensuring that the places are cleaned always and desist from dumping refuse into the canals”.
Bello appealed to the residents to clean up the , counselling them not to wait until government officials visit their council before they make information on environmental degradation available to the government. He said this is how it is done in all advanced countries, adding that such information will help the government act faster on such challenges.
