.charges councils on advocacy, enforcement sustenance

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Lagos State Government has ordered illegal squatters and operators of unapproved parking lot among others under Apongbon Bridge and environs to vacate immediately as enforcement agents have been deployed to begin enforcement, as part of the ongoing clean-up exercise of the state.

This comes as it stressed the need for all administrators of Local Governments/ Local Council Development Areas to collaborate with the State government to confront environmental challenges through continuous enforcement and sustained advocacy.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, gave the charge at the weekend, after an inspection tour to Savage/Elegbata Drainage channel around Olowogbowo/ Apongbon axis in Lagos Island at the weekend.

The team visited the Cole Street, Savage Lane, George Street, Abu Lane, Apongbon Underbridge and Olowogbowo area.

Wahab expressed state’s government’s determination in tackling and proffering lasting solution to the problem of environmental nuisance, as well as flooding in Lagos Island environs which poses serious threat to lives and properties in the area.

He said the team had to visit the Savage/Elegbata Drainage channel for a solution to open the drainage outfall towards discharging into the Lagoon effectively, adding that the out fall was blocked as a result of an ongoing road construction in the area.

Wahab expressed dismay over how human bad behaviours have destroyed the roads and other infrastructure put in place by the government, saying Local Governments, LGs/ Local Council Development Area, LCDAs are very culpable for the destruction of those infrastructure, because they have allowed and looked away from various unsanitary activities of the residents on the state of the roads.

The commissioner fumed that it was observed during the inspection that the people in the community were entrenched in bad behaviours, saying that government would not rest but continue to ramp up the enforcement and advocacy approach.

He, therefore, directed everyone engaged in various activities such as operating illegal mechanic workshops, street trading, illegal abbatoir, unapproved parking lot among others under Apongbon Bridge and environs to vacate immediately as enforcement agents have been given the go- ahead to begin enforcement.

Wahab said government enforcement officials would be stationed in the axis after the enforcement to monitor the level of compliance and make arrest as well as prosecute any offender when the need arises.

He urged community members to always take ownership of all infrastructure and the environment by preventing indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainage channels/roads, trading on the roads amongt others, stressing that “it is the responsibility of all residents to maintain the environment to ensure its sustainability.”

The Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, who was part of the team, said “the situation experienced at Apongbon and its environ is unfortunate as the people of the community are careless with infrastructure put in place to benefit the community.”

Rotimi-Akodu, noted that there has been increase in the volume of migration of people from the hinterland to the area, adding that this high influx puts pressure on the infrastructure being created by the Government.

He challenged property owners in the area not to compromise their buildings for stipends/handouts, vowing that “Lagos State Government will not be deterred until it achieves a community that is environmentally sustainable.”

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji; Permanent Secretary, Office Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; Managing Director Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, as well as some management staff from the ministry were also part of the delegation.