The Lagos State Government has promised to keep improving the drainage system across the state to help prevent flooding.
On Sunday, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, spoke to reporters after visiting several drainage projects. These include projects on Lagos Island, Onikoyi Banana Island, and Femi Pedro Avenue in Park View Estate. He said these efforts would help reduce flooding in those areas.
Wahab said they visited Lagos Island to check how well the ministries were following the plans and how much work had been done. He said they were happy with the progress made so far.
He also looked at work being done on a drainage project near Gorodom Market and said he was pleased with how the project was going.
Wahab and his team went to Ikoyi after hearing reports of flash flooding around the Turnbull/Banana Island Road area.
He said they discovered that a hidden drainage channel (culvert) near the Shoreline by the Turnbull entrance was blocked.
Wahab added that heavy rain had caused problems on Banana Island Road, but the government had fixed the issue and improved the drainage there.
He explained that new buildings and construction in the area had put too much pressure on the existing drainage system.
He said the government might turn one of the smaller drains into a bigger one to help carry rainwater from Shoreline and Banana Island Road through Mojisola Onikoyi into the Lagoon.
The inspection team also visited drainage areas under the Idumagbo Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge, near Oja Oba Street.
Even though the government had earlier removed traders from these areas, they had returned to set up shops again.
Wahab ordered the traders to leave the area immediately.
He said the government didn’t want to stop people from doing business, but trading under bridges and other major structures could be dangerous.
He explained that safety and public interest must come before business, but they would allow trading if it was done in an organized way. Since the current setup was disorderly, the space would be shut down until traders submitted a proper plan.
Wahab also checked the drainage work at Park View Estate, which is supposed to help drain rainwater from Femi Pedro Avenue into the Lagoon.
He said the contractor should finish the work within 90 days and that he was happy with the progress made so far.
Former Deputy Governor Femi Pedro also praised the government for working to improve drainage in Park View Estate.
