By Kingsley Adegboye

WORRIED by the devastating effects of recent flooding on roads, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation has called on Lagosians to be more alive to their role in keeping drainage channels free of waste materials. The Corporation also gave reasons why it cannot embark upon roads maintenance now.

Executive Chairman of the Corporation, Mr. Gbenga Akintola who spoke on the twin problems of flooding and deterioration of road infrastructure occasioned by the torrential rainfall being experienced presently in Lagos, said that his Agency had anticipated a rainy season that will pose greater challenge to road maintenance activities due to unprecedented frequency and volume of rainfall.

This was why the Corporation embarked on a full scale media advocacy campaign to sensitise residents and road users on behavioural changes required on their part to complement government’s effort in making Lagos roads motorable all year round.

Describing the dumping of waste materials in drains as the foremost issue to be addressed, Akintola stated that “it is painful that the consequences of our poor waste disposal and sanitation attitude has continued to cost government and the people several millions of Naira due to flooding and road damage while also posing serious threats to life.

Men of LSPWC at work

If you take a look at the flood whenever it rains, what you find are thousands of pure water containers, used clothes, shoes, stationeries and all sorts of domestic wastes which usually block the drains, pushing the water to road surface which eventually lead to pot-holes and craters, and then you ask yourself how did these items find their ways into drainage facilities,” he lamented.

The LSPWS boss who described this season as the most trying period for Lagos residents , called on Lagosians to remove every material that could obstruct free flow of water around their surroundings.

He hinted that “environmental sanitation exercise may become a daily routine in homes and business environments in order to address this ugly situation at the moment.”

On the effort being made by the Corporation to reduce the hardship faced by motorists on Lagos roads, the LSPWC helmsman said Lagosians must understand that not much can be done on road maintenance during heavy downpours.

According to him, the heavy rainfall penultimate Sunday, washed away all the asphalt and other materials used for maintenance of some roads in Lagos just as work was completed on site.

He however stated that his agency is determined to continuously provide palliative solutions to cushion the effect of the present condition of some roads in the state.

On the collaboration of stake holders in road maintenance issues, Mr. Akintola said he has constantly been in touch with all Agencies who have responsibility on roads in Lagos, including FERMA so that actions can be expedited on critical sections of Lagos roads, especially Apapa-Oshodi Express way which is about the most worrisome spot usually affected by the flood.