FLOODING: LAGOS TO CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE COLLECTOR ON AGUNGI TO BRING RELIEF
… As Commissioner visits flooded areas in Agungi, Ajiran Kushenla
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab on Thursday said the Government is determined to proffer a permanent solution to flooding in Agungi and its environs through the construction of a bigger collector along Agungi road expected to bring relief to residents in that axis.
The Commissioner disclosed this while speaking with the press after a thorough assessment of the area following the flooding incidents experienced as a result of the 48 hours of continuous rainfall experienced in the state, adding that the construction of a bigger collector became necessary along Agungi Road to preventing flooding in the area.
The Commissioner accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite alongside Heads of Agencies and Directors in the Ministry visited Freedom Park Road / Kusenla Junction, Alpha Beach Road, noting that the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang were deployed while the rain was ongoing to clear the debris in the collector at the aforementioned areas to allow free flow of stormwater.
Wahab mentioned that during the tour a minor encroachment was observed along Alfa Beach behind the Jame Hope University where a blockage was discovered, saying that from Saturday full excavation will start from Alpha Beach to Conservation Road.
The Commissioner said the construction of a new collector at Agungi Road is just one of the several that the State Government would construct to address perennial flooding issues in the identified areas.
“At Agungi we have agreed that the area needs a new collector that will take the water from the road into the lagoon; the collector they have there is too small to serve the volume of Stormwater on the Agungi Streach”, he said.
Informing that after the construction of a new Collector, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure will also be invited to raise the level of the road, he averred that the flooding issue on System 156 (Upstream) Alpha Beach Road has been a recurring problem for quite a while, stressing that the dredging of the channel would commence immediately towards making the state flood free.
Wahab lamented that owners of some buildings had blocked System 156, emphasising that the state will not fold its hand and allow some people to destroy public infrastructure provided by individuals and the Government because of pecuniary gains.
The Commissioner vowed that the State Government will continue to ramp up enforcement operations across the state to reclaim setbacks and drainage alignments towards preventing flooding.
He appealed to residents to be whistleblowers for the government, saying the government cannot be everywhere. He added that Government Agencies and Ministries will join forces to put a stop to these actions by enforcing our laws.