CITIZENS COMPASS —THE Lagos State Government on Saturday said it would soon demolish some shops located opposite the Area G police station in the Ogba area. It however noted that the demolition would be after proper notices had been served on the occupants.

The state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who disclosed this, noted that the shops were constructed on drainages.

According to a statement by the Director of Public Affairs in the ministry, Kunle Adesina, on Saturday, the commissioner spoke when he led some officials of the ministry to inspect some areas including Rosellas Channel on LASU–Igando Road, Oko Oloyun Channel, Igando, Ikotun bus stop Primary Channel as well as the Area G channel, all of which had been affected by the continuous rainfall.

“At the Ogba area of the state, the commissioner identified shops located opposite the Area G police station that will be removed after serving mandatory notices, because they are built on drainage right of ways,” the statement noted.

He revealed that the state government was committed to ensuring that the state remained livable for all residents, adding that the inspection was to investigate the causes of the flooding and road degradation in the areas.

He added that his ministry would collaborate with the state’s Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to quicken the fixing of the Ikotun Primary Channel, and repair a portion of the road that collapsed at Ikotun bus stop. These, he said, would help to curb flooding.

The commissioner attributed the recurring flooding to “unwholesome waste disposal by the people”, while urging residents to avoid indiscriminate waste disposal and take ownership of infrastructure built for their benefit.

The statement noted that agencies like Parks and Gardens Agency & the Waste Management Authority would ensure that the environment remained clean, while the enforcement of environmental laws would be enforced by KAI using the judicial system.

It also quoted the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, as advising traders to desist from selling on the roads, medians and sidewalks “because studies have shown that refuse generated from their sales most times are dumped on the roads”.

Akodu said it was regrettable that many of the channels earlier cleared had again been littered with refuse.