COMMENCEMENT OF LAGOS ISLAND URBAN REGENERATION: LASG UNDERTAKES DRAINAGE SITUATION ASSESSMENT
As the Lagos State Government is set to commence the reconstruction of some major roads, drains and major collectors on Lagos Island, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab on Sunday led officials of the Ministry to inspect the alignments for the drains and collectors to be reconstructed.
Speaking after an extensive inspection tour with newsmen, the Commissioner said the inspection was brought about by the need to assess the situation on ground preparatory to the commencement of the the urban regeneration activities to be carried out in Lagos Island.
Mr. Tokunbo Wahab said urban renewal across Lagos Island had become necessary in order to effectively address the problem of flooding which had posed a serious threat to lives and properties in the area.
Wahab recalled that in the recent past, Julius Berger was awarded the contract to build appropriate infrastructures on the Island, saying that human behaviour and interaction over time clogged the drainage system leading to the Governor re-awarding the road and drainage infrastructure in the area.
“This tour became necessary as the Governor has re-awarded the regeneration of the total infrastructure of Lagos Island; we need to ensure the contractors are ready to commence and see if the contract period can be abridged and thus reduce the delivery time to 18 months or less instead of the initial 24 months projects delivery”, he said.
He maintained that the State Government will continue to provide requisite infrastructure but the citizens must take ownership of these infrastructures with a mind that it is for the good of all.
“We will ramp up the provision of resilient infrastructure and encourage people to take ownership while the Government also take ownership of the responsibility imposed by the statutes; our people must remember that taxpayers funds are deployed to build these infrastructure” he said.
The Commissioner reminded all that there is no going back on the commencement of a total ban on single-use plastics from the beginning of January, adding that littering especially with styrofoam has reduced drastically compared to when enforcement of its ban initially started.
The Commissioner said the Ministry will continue its advocacy for attitudinal change in the new year, adding that citizens must know that in order to experience change, attitudes towards the environment must also positively change.
At Ilubirin, the Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the level of work on the pumping station projects, adding that the station will be energized within the next 10 days for test running.
He said the massive Ilubirin water pump project is the most critical part of the regeneration process, which will, in part, de-flood Lagos Island and its Environs. He added that all drainages on Lagos Island would discharge into the Lagoon through the pumps, stressing that these measures would permanently curb the menace of flooding in the areas.
Wahab explained that the Ilubirin project has three major pumps, two 500KVA Generators, and three Control Panels with a pumping capacity of 3 million litres of water every hour, stressing that the project would be very beneficial to the entire community.
According to him, all the equipment is now in place, in 10 days or less, once the connection is completed, we will open the outlet for test running and this will also complement the urban regeneration efforts to de-flood Lagos Island.
He advised all Agencies of Government, especially in the Environment and Water Resources sector to move out of their offices into the field and engage in responsibilities that are required of their respective Agencies, adding that Global Warming and Climate Change are serious issues that must be confronted from all fronts.
The Commissioner sounded a note of warning to developers and residents that dump building materials on the roads and drainage channels causing blockage to the natural flow of water to desist from such acts while ordering the immediate sealing of three buildings on Adeniji Adele Road, with the street numbers 65, 68 and 124 for dumping of building materials on the drainage channels.
The Special adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu said the urban regeneration of Lagos Island is the lasting solution to the menace of flooding in the area, stressing that the government will not relent in performing its responsibilities of maintaining a flood-free and clean environment.
The Commissioner was accompanied by the Special Adviser on Environment, Engineer Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji; Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; LAWMA Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin and some Directors from the Ministry
The places visited by the team include Bombata Multipurpose Market, Oroyinyin area, Princess Street, Isale Gangan, Aroloya Street, Idumagbo Street, Adeniji-Adele Trapezoidial Canal, Epe Collector Drain along Adeniji Adele Road and Ilubirin.