Lagos State Government has agreed to give property owners around Lekki County, Ikota GRA, Megamunds Estate, Ajiran, Agungi, Orchid, Oral II and environs, more time to come up with workable options that will re-establish the drainage setbacks without demolition.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, during a meeting with property owners and residents in his office at Alausa, said the state is committed to re -establishing the drainage setbacks, which have been totally blocked or converted to access roads.

He was supported by the Special Adviser to the governor on Environment, Kunle Rotimi-Akodu

Wahab said: “The government will be humane in its approach to reclaim the drainage right of way. We will give property owners and residents enough time to proffer solution to reclaiming of the setback in order to reduce the number of structures that will be affected.”

The commissioner explained to the representatives from Megamunds Estate that the System 44A which cuts through Ikota GRA and Megamunds is a 19.5 meters (width) channel, but has been blocked by Ikota GRA and Lekki County property owners and residents.

He said the government Is determined to find a realistic solution to flooding in the areas and so the 31metres drainage alignment would be re-established and 6metres setback on both sides would be recovered.

Wahab said all property owners whose fences fall within the drainage setback will be served mandatory contravention notices as the law demands, while enforcement will be the last option.

He added: “As regards this alignment; we will serve notices as required by law and re-establish the one for System 44; no one would tell the state that the canal did not exist before constructions started.

“I will like to let you know that a layout can be approved based on what developers provide, but if the layout does not reflect the natural alignment, then I can’t blame the Ministry of Physical Planning, but the developers that failed to get their drainage clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. “

Wahab told the stakeholders from Ajiran and Agungi drainage channel that the government is committed to re -establishing the drainage setback which has now been converted to an access road into their homes. This, he lamented, made it difficult to access the canal for cleaning.

He reminded them of an earlier agreement that property owners would own the drainage channel and maintain it permanently. The commissioner added that letters would be served on residents next week to know when the agreement will be signed.

During his meeting with property owners on Orchid and Oral II Estate on the corridor of System 156 and 157 Channel, along Ikota River, the commissioner affirmed that both channels have been totally blocked by illegal structures without drainage approvals. He recalled that property owners whose buildings and fences fall within the approved seven meters setback on both sides of the channel were earlier served seven-day contravention notices which had since expired.

Affected property owners pleaded with the commissioner to temper justice with mercy and grant allow then come up with possible solutions to salvage the situation.

The commissioner thereafter urged developers and builders to always seek drainage approvals before commencing any building project. (The Nation)

•Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab (speaking) during a meeting with property owners and residents in his office at Alausa

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