The Lagos State Ministry of Environment (MOE) and Water Resources says the state is set to rehabilitate the drainage infrastructure around the Lagos-Island metropolis.

The MOE commissioner, Tokunbo Wahab, made this known while speaking with journalists after an inspection of the ongoing drainage enforcement project in Lagos Island on Saturday.

The commissioner expressed displeasure over the nonchalant attitude of some residents towards the environment and said there would be continuous reinforcement around the metropolis.

“We are not happy, and we can’t be happy. The government is using taxpayers’ money to put in place infrastructure, but unfortunately, some people are trying to discredit its work.

“We also found out that in the course of doing this new road, the contractors, by mistake, had blocked the outlet for a channel, but we have been in this conversation with them for the past two weeks.

“We want to hasten it up because it is part of our own design to rehabilitate the drainage infrastructure of Lagos Island.

“So, this is like a closure for the last wrap of that inspection, but what we found here is beyond the drainage; it is about human bad habit, and it is so unfortunate,” he said.

He, therefore, assured Lagosians that the ministry would continue reinforcing law and order in the state.

“We have been here before. We do it, and when we leave, they come back. We will station people here permanently, and we will see how that will work, but that reinforcement starts today, and we will keep engaging them,” he said.

When asked when the project will kick off, Mr Wahab said there would be a meeting with the Ministry of Works to further deliberate on the way forward.

“We will also continue our own maintenance work inside Lagos island, but whatever we do, we must first allow this water to discharge the way it is being naturally designed into the lagoon,” he said.

While speaking with journalists, Kunle Akodu, the special adviser on environment to the state governor, also expressed his dissatisfaction with the activities of some state residents.

“Whatever the structure the government put in place, they don’t care, and as much as they maintain such habit, we must meet them at that level.

“We have to ensure that we wrap up our enforcement, we will not rest on our oars, and it is either they comply with what the state government want, or they find elsewhere to go,” he said.

The areas the commissioner and his team visited were Salvage Lane, Cole Street, George Street, Elegbata, Olowogbowo in Apogbon and Aibu Street in Lagos Island.

(NAN)