Lagos Assembly urges Sanwo-Olu to revive drainage office to tackle flooding

By Sodiq Adelakun

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reactivate the Office of Drainage Services to address the issue of flooding in the state.

The Chairman, House Committee on Environment (Parastatals), Mr. Rasheed Shabi, made the call in an interview in Lagos on Sunday.

Shabi, representing APC-Lagos Mainland II, emphasised the need for intensified clearing of major canals across the state to prevent flooding.

He also urged the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development to remove illegal structures built on setbacks of canals across the state.

Furthermore, Shabi called on local governments and Local Council Development Areas to educate residents on the importance of regularly clearing secondary drainage channels.

“Though the causes of the flood have been natural and man-made, there is a 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 caused 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.