Lagosians on X have criticised local councils for contributing to the persistent issue of flooding across the state.
The state government has reiterated its position to go all-out to curb the perennial menace of flooding within its environs.
To achieve this, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, is leading his team to remove illegal structures, especially shanties, on the right of way of the state’s drainage channels.
Via his X page on Wednesday, Wahab reminded Lagosians that flood risk is increasing at an alarming rate all over the world, posing threats to people, assets, and the environment.
He called on locals to join the government in “preventing flooding and avoiding loss of lives and properties.”
See his tweet below:
Flood risk is increasing at an alarming rate all over the world, posing threats to people, assets, and the environment. The rainy season is here! Join the state in preventing flooding and avoiding loss of lives and properties.
Keep your environment clean. Do the RIGHT THING!… pic.twitter.com/3LVmTmJBJr
— Tokunbo Wahab (@tokunbo_wahab) May 15, 2024
However, residents accused heads of Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) and Local Government Areas (LGA) of failing to play their part.
An X user, Olajuwon Oluwa, claimed that the inability of council heads to contribute their quota to the fight against flooding is affecting the state government’s efforts.
Oluwa tweeted: “HC, pls get the buy-in of the LGs and LCDAs into the state’s effort on this matter. They’re making your work more difficult by not playing their part in this very important task. It would go a long way to improving our environment if they do.”
Residents also highlighted illegal activities by developers and business owners that threaten the free flow of sewage through drainage systems in certain areas such as Ketu, Agege, Shibiri, Idimu, and Okun Alfa among many others.
“Hon Commissioner someone mentioned Agungi/Ajiran road yesterday. I believe you have taken note. Please, it is an emergency; the area is flooded even before it rains,” an X user with the handle @eonyeokeh, said.
@morola76: “HC sir, I was at Lafiaji area of Okun Alfa and saw that there has been encroachment into the Lekki Conservation Land from the back. The road network has been narrowed by developers who have altered the original survey of the area. Please kindly have your team look into this.”
@sid2domino: “The contractor who built Durosimi Etti in phase 1 blocked off rock drive from draining into the drainage channel on Durosimi Etti. This floods all adjoining streets. Can the ministry kindly assist to open the blocked drain? It requires a hammer to break the cast wall in the gutter.”
@AugustineOsula: “Sir, Please abate the nuisance caused by illegal structures on drainage/ sewer lines, designed to control flooding in Goodluck Jonathan Housing Estate, Pipeline Road, Idimu, Lagos.”
To deal with the issue of flooding, one X user called on the government to encourage locals to plant trees and hedges to protect the land and also enforce laws against dumping of refuse indiscriminately.
“…how about encouraging people to plant trees, hedges etc. It will help to protect the land. Then please arrange for the rubbish dumping to be dealt with, too many places affected,” one X user said.
Another X user suggested that construction workers should adopt modern technology in their work.
The netizen noted: “Construction workers should embrace technology by utilizing concrete mixers and other auxiliary equipment, and cease the indiscriminate practice of dumping materials on the streets.”