OVER DRAINAGE SETBACKS IN LEKKI, AJIRAN, AGUNGI AXIS, LASG MEETS PROPERTY OWNERS

The Lagos State Government met with property owners on the Lekki County corridor, Ikota GRA, Megamunds Estate, Ajiran, Agungi, Orchid, Oral II, and surrounding areas on Thursday to continue the conversation about drainage setbacks. The government listened to their request for time to develop practical solutions that would restore the setbacks without demolishing any buildings.

Together with Special Adviser on Environment Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Mr. Tokunbo Wahab spoke with the property owners and residents of Alausa. They stated that the State is dedicated to restoring the drainage setbacks that have been blocked by some residents or turned into access roads.

“To lessen the number of structures that would be impacted, Wahab said, “The State Government would be humane in its approach to reclaim the drainage right of way and we will allow property owners and residents to profer a solution to the reclaiming of the setback till a particular date.”

He informed the Megamunds Estate delegates that although System 44A runs through both Ikota GRA and Megamunds, it is a 19.5-meter-wide channel that has been obstructed by residents and property owners in Lekki County and Ikota GRA.

The 31-meter drainage alignment would be restored, and six six-meter setbacks on both sides would be recovered, he said, adding that the government is committed to finding a workable solution to the flooding in the area.

According to him, the law requires that all property owners whose fences fell inside the drainage setback receive mandatory contravention notices; enforcement is the last resort. The government is dedicated to restoring the drainage setback, which has been transformed into an access road leading to residents’ homes, the Commissioner informed the Ajiran and Agungi drainage channel stakeholders.

He emphasised that the government and stakeholders along the Ajiran/Agungi Channel would need to first come to an agreement on how the property would take ownership of the drainage channel and see to the channel’s permanent maintenance. He maintained that the conversion had made it difficult to access the canal for cleaning purposes because it had been converted to private use. Wahab told them that next week, Ministry representatives would deliver letters to the impacted buildings informing them of the signing date of the agreement.

In a previous meeting with owners of Orchid and Oral II estate along the Ikota River’s System 156 and 157 Channel corridor, the Commissioner confirmed that illegal structures without drainage approvals had blocked both channels.

Urging builders and developers to get drainage permissions in advance of starting any construction project. Property owners who have buildings and fences within the authorised seven-meter setback on either side of the channel, according to Wahab, were previously served with 7-Day Contravention Notices, but those notices have since expired.

The impacted property owners begged the Commissioner to balance justice with mercy and give the locals a chance to think of potential ways to turn the situation around.