The Lagos State Government yesterday allayed fears of residents on the release of water from Oyan Dam. It said necessary measures are in place to effectively manage the situation.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab, while addressing reporters after an extensive tour of areas affected by the staggered water release, insisted that property owners and residents of low-lying areas must relocate to high grounds.

He said: ?I will appeal to the property owners and residents around Ajegunle, Itowolo and other low-lying areas to relocate to higher ground; this is emotional, but life matters a lot; it has been observed that most buildings in Itowolo and environs are built along the plains of the Ogun River; water will never leave for you, it will always find its way.?

The commissioner explained that the ministry had engaged in massive advocacy in respect to the release of water in the past few weeks, and so urged residents not to compromise their safety and properties.

According to him, the government is concerned about the sanitary situation of the neighborhoods as residents practice open defecation and other unsanitary activities in the open water. This, he described as ?unwholesome and will result in serious negative impacts thereafter?.

The commissioner reiterated that the government recognises the challenges faced by residents of the affected communities, and empathises with them because they are tax payers.

He also told them that the government has awarded some drainage construction projects to mitigate the effects of the flooding.

Wahab added that the team was visiting Isheri North GRA for the second time in 12 months, and promised that the government will get a final solution to the menace. He also said suggestions by residents to dredge a particular canal will be effectively executed.

Wahab recalled that in an effort to reduce the flood, Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) and the Ogun State government recently began dredging the Ogun River downstream from the Ikorodu to Isheri axis (Ajelogo, Owode-Elede, Ajegunle, and deck-on-pile of Itowolo Bridge).

The commissioner noted that over 52 tributaries discharge into the Lagos lagoon, which is a major contributor to prevalence of flood. He added that as part of measures to prevent flooding in the axis and environs, there is the on-going extensive construction of 3.7km outfall channel and secondary collectors on Gberigbe Road, which cuts across (Abule-Eko/Ijede/Igbopa ? London Road in Ikorodu, a joint project with the Federal Government.

The team also visited Primate Oshibajo Road, Agbede Transformer/Omolaiye communities in Ikorodu to find a lasting solution to the erosion experienced in the area. Wahab told the residents that the drainage contract that will resolve the problem has been awarded.

?Agbede?s case is such a very unfortunate one because before now, the government had built a massive drainage in a school as an intervention so that storm water can discharge to the nearby natural stream effectively, but it has proven not to be enough.

?Graciously, Mr. Governor has approved the second leg of the drainage system construction which would begin immediately as the contractor is expected to move to site in few weeks,? he added.

Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, who accompanied the Commissioner, urged Lagosians not to entertain fears because the government would continue to map out strategies to contain flooding that may be experienced at any time.

He advised residents to be safety conscious, and urged those in low-lying areas to relocate to higher grounds.

Other places visited include Majidun, Itowolo, Ketu, Gberigbe Road, Abule Eko/Ijede/Igbopa-London Road, Primate Oshibajo Road, Agbede Transformer Ikorodu; Owode-Elede, Owode-Onirin and Ajegunle and Isheri- North, GRA. (The Nation)

?Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab during an extensive tour of areas affected by the staggered water release from Oyan Dam

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