The Lagos State government has announced plans to commence enforcement operations in Apapa to reinstate the three-meter drainage right-of-way for all drainage channels starting Monday.
This statement was made by Mr Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, in a Sunday statement issued in Lagos.
Wahab mentioned that the enforcement action follows the expiration of notices and the holding of stakeholder meetings with property owners earlier in the year to relocate their fences encroaching on the drainage setback.
He explained that contravention notices had been issued to buildings violating the drainage setbacks.
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Wahab also disclosed that for many years, the ministry had been unable to access the eight major collectors for maintenance due to encroachment, a significant factor contributing to flooding in the Apapa area.
He stated that the state government’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to flooding in Apapa and instructed enforcement officers to ensure the removal of all properties encroaching on the drainage right-of-way, as required by law.
Wahab also assured that the government would enforce the regulations without bias towards any particular properties.
“We want to check the state of collectors in Apapa in order to evacuate and treat the collectors.
“The whole of the collectors in this area are blocked and the right-of-way taken over by individuals who moved their fences in order to acquire extra land, thereby denying us access to the drains,” Mr Wahab said.
