The Lagos State Government has said it would continue to demolish constructions erected over drainage channels throughout the state to provide justice and fairness to all residents.
According to a statement released on Saturday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed this immediately after reviewing the removal of structures placed on the drainage channel in the Lekki 2 Ikota corridors.
In his words:
“At Ikota, the level of encroachments is just unimaginable; people have built on the canal path and we resolved that these nuisances cannot be allowed to continue. It just had to stop.
“We have gone round and we concluded that all houses on the canal path and on the canal itself must be removed and the path recreated to discharge into Ikota River. This enforcement will be a continuous exercise, people cannot blame the government for what they caused by their actions, whatever negative thing you do to the environment will come to haunt you eventually.
“We cannot be brazen in our illegality and be brazen in our nonchalant attitude to the environment. It has to end, and illegality cannot beget legality.”
Wahab also recommended homeowners seek and receive drainage clearance and other approvals before beginning construction projects to avoid this problem.
cc: Punch Ng
