By Oluwatosin Maliki
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has issued a seven-day contravention notice to owners of buildings located on Orchid Road, Agungi, Ajiran, Conservation Road, Osapa, along the Ikota River.
This directive was announced in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adesina, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.
The commissioner, along with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, declared the ultimatum following an inspection tour of the Ikota River corridor. The purpose of the tour was to assess the level of compliance by property owners whose buildings and fences encroached within the approved seven-meter setback on both sides of the channel.
Wahab urged residents to adhere to the State Drainage Master Plan to avoid property demolition. He emphasized the government’s commitment to enforcing the law and reclaiming drainage setbacks after the expiration of the issued notices.
The commissioner mentioned that he had received a petition from the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, expressing concerns about several distortions affecting their roads and the natural habitat of animals in the foundation. He stated that damage had been done to the drainage channel on Orchid Road designed to carry stormwater from the communities into the Lagoon.
Wahab emphasized that the state government had been lenient in reclaiming the drainage right of way. The setback alignment was reduced from the original seven meters to six meters after discussions with property owners to minimize the number of affected structures.
“We cannot keep lampooning the government for flooding when developers, builders & residents are the main cause of flooding,” Wahab stated. “We shall continue to enforce because that is why laws are made. Without law and order, there cannot be development; enough of this bad behavior.”
The commissioner and his team also visited other areas, including Oral Estate II, Chevron Drive, and Thompson Avenue, where shanties were demolished. The government aims to rid the state of shanties and address environmental infractions that pollute the environment and pose security risks.
The Special Adviser on Environment highlighted the state government’s commitment to year-round cleaning, maintenance, and sustainable environmental practices, calling for citizens’ active participation in achieving environmental improvements.