The Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has initiated an enforcement campaign to reclaim a crucial drainage channel, the System 1 Drainage Channel, located midstream in Ojota and Ogudu.
According to a post by Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab on his official social media handle on Monday, the ministry has taken action after discovering new constructions by property owners within the designated areas during an inspection on Sunday.
Wahab highlighted that System 1, established in 1974, is the largest primary channel responsible for mitigating flood-related issues in significant parts of Lagos mainland, including Ogudu, Ojota, Ifako, Gbagada, and Maryland.
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He said, “The state had been having discussions with property owners/residents since 2021, and the conversation ended in November 2023.
“Contravention notices have been served to owners of buildings lying within 140 metres of System 1 since 2021, but we found out that people have gone back to encroaching on the right of way and alignments.
“The property owners whose buildings fall within the approved 140 meters Right of Way of the channel had been given the option of voluntary compliance for almost three years.
“Some of the property owners continued with the construction of new buildings that surfaced in the areas now.”
Wahab also revealed the Ministry’s plan to initiate significant maintenance dredging at Okota, Faseun Bridge System 6E, off Ago Palace Way, aiming to enhance water flow and eliminate waste buildup beneath the bridge, thus mitigating flooding.
