WE REMOVED 1141 CONTRAVENTIONS IN THE LAST ONE YEAR TO RESTORE DRAINAGE RIGHT OF WAY (ROW)-LASG

WE REMOVED 1141 CONTRAVENTIONS IN THE LAST ONE YEAR TO RESTORE DRAINAGE  RIGHT OF WAY (ROW)-LASG

PIX: 0443: L-R: Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji; Special Advicer on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Honourable Commissioner for The Environment and Water Resources, Mr.Tokunbo Wahab; Special Advicer on Publicity and Media, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Permanent Secretary,  Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite and representative of the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy and Permanent Secretary, Information and Strategy, Mr Olumide Sogunle, during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing on the achievements of the Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Olusola's Administration in the Environment Sector, held over the weekend at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Center, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos State.

 L-R: Permanent Secretaries, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji ; Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Honorable Commissioner for The Environment and Water Resources,  Mr. Tokunbo Wahab; Special Adviser on Publicity and Media, Mr. Gboyega Akosile and representative of the Honourable Commissioner,  Information and Strategy and  Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy,  Mr. Olumide Sogunle, during the  2025 Ministerial Press Briefing on the achievements of the Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Olusola's  Administration in the Environment Sector, held over the weekend at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Center, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The Lagos State Government over the weekend declared that as part of its commitment to ensure a flood free Lagos, not less that 1141 contraventions were removed  in the last one year to restore Drainage Right of Ways (ROW) across the state.

The  disclosure was made by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefings organised as part of activities to mark  the second year anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Secretariat.

He added that the restoration of ROW and protection carried out included that of System 40 & 40a Alaba International Market Channel and Franklas Channel which is 3.5km; System 34B Aiyetoro/Iteku/ Ishasi Drainage Channel, Ojo LGA which is 3.0km and System 131 Odo Iraye Channel, Epe LGA which is 2.5 km amongst others. 

He added that from year 2023 till date, a total number of 12 primary channels with a total length of 32.5km were restored to their original state while another 84 secondary channels totalling 96km was restored in 2024. Another four primary channels have been proposed for restoration in Year 2025.

Wahab stated that in order to eliminate the problem of tidal effect, the state Government has constructed a State of the art pumping station which is recorded as the first of its kind in Africa at Ilubirin, Lagos Island. 

He explained that the pumping station is designed to pump discharged storm from Lagos Island into the lagoon via an elevated channel after the 

completion of the ongoing Lagos Island Drainage regeneration project.

The Commissioner said construction work is ongoing to deflood the entire Lagos Island with areas like Oroyinyin, Idumagbo, Binuyo, Aroloya, Epe, Ojo-giwa amongst others to benefit.

“During the year under review, we issued 1674 abatement notices and carried out 4,955 Monitoring of various environmental health infractions while 171 premises were sealed in the process for not abating the nuisance after being served” 

“The infractions are Stacking of building materials on roads and drainage channels thereby blocking free flow of storm water, indiscriminate mixing of building materials on the roads, non-provision of toilet facilities in tenement leading to open urination and defecation as well as indiscriminate waste disposal”, Wahab stated.

The commissioner added that Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) also undertook compliance enforcement actions against non environmentally compliant facilities with a total of 872 Complaints received, with  610 of them noise  related complaint, 129 of the cases were abated while 320 cases were treated with appreciation letters coming from the complainants and 26 of the reported cases are still under investigation. 

He added that LASEPA also monitored 140 hospitality facilities which includes supermarkets, nightclubs and bake houses with a view to ensuring compliance with the state 2017 environmental laws on safety and cleanliness.

Wahab said the Government through the Lagos State Waste Water Management Office (LASWAMO) in order to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) intensified enforcement efforts to combat illegal wastewater discharge and mismanagement in the State. 

He stressed that the agency during the period under review inspected 2,315 facilities, served 1,005 abatement 

notices while 1,091 facilities were compliant to sustainable sanitation services while enforcement of 208 facilities were carried out. 

He added that the government through LASWAMO has deployed three Modular Septage Pre-Treatment Plants (MSPP) that enables efficient treatment of fecal sludge before discharge into the Odo Iya Alaro waterbody.

The Commissioner maintained that the state government would continue to appeal to the people by ramping up its advocacy campaigns, saying as for those who choose to be recalcitrant,  the state will not stop enforcement actions where and when necessary.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment Engr. Olakunle Rotimi - Akodu in his remarks charged all residents to support the government efforts in making lagos a safe, clean, flood free and sustainable one. 

He emphasised that the Government will not rest on it oars but would continue to ramp up the enforcement, advocacy and enlightenment saying that the protection of the environment is a collective effort between the government and the people.

Prominent among those who attended the briefing were the Permanent Secretaries, Office of Environmental Services, Dr Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen and Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Engr Mahamood Adegbite, Information and Strategy, Mr Olumide Sogunle, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, heads of agencies and directors in the Ministry 

Signed

Kunle Adeshina

Director (Public Affairs)

MOE&WR 

April 27, 2025