Floods: Lagos Assembly tasks Sanwo-Olu on dredging of drainage channels

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reactivate the Office of Drainage Services in the state to clear all drainage channels and ensure proper refuse disposal in the state.

The Chairman, House Committee on Environment (Parastatals), Mr Rasheed Shabi made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.

Shabi, representing APC-Lagos Mainland II, said the clearing of major canals across the state should be intensified to prevent flooding.

The lawmaker also called on the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, to clear illegal structures built on setbacks of canals across the state.

He equally urged the local governments and Local Council Development Areas to inculcate in people the habit of regular clearing of secondary drainage channels across the state.

While saying that drainages and canals had not been properly channeled, he said:
“Though the causes of the flood have been natural and man-made, there is need for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs,) to be proficient in their duties.

“The recent torrential rain especially over the weekend in the state has made residents to lose their properties.

“I want to urge the Ministry of the Environment to explain what they have done in the last one year and most importantly people should stop dumping of refuse in drainage channels

“The enforcement agencies should also clamp down on people engaging in indiscriminate dumping of refuse,” he said.

Shabi disclosed that indiscriminate erection of buildings near water banks should be looked into stating that the situation must be urgently addressed to avert further disaster.