The Lagos State government says it will start enforcement operations in Apapa to re-establish the three-metre drainage right-of-way for all its drainage channels on Monday.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

He said the enforcement was coming after the expiration of notices and convening of stakeholders meetings with the property owners earlier in the year to move their fences that fell within the drainage setback.

Mr Wahab said the ministry had issued contravention notices to the buildings regarding the drainage setbacks.

He added that for several years, the ministry had not been able to access the eight major collectors for maintenance purposes due to encroachment, which was a major contributor to flooding in the Apapa area.

Mr Wahab said the state government was determined to find a lasting solution to flooding in Apapa.

He directed enforcement officers to ensure that all contravening properties were removed from the drainage right-of-way in accordance with the three metres required by law.

The commissioner assured the government would not cherrypick properties during enforcement.

“We want to check the state of collectors in Apapa in order to evacuate and treat the collectors.

“The whole of the collectors in this area are blocked and the right-of-way taken over by individuals who moved their fences in order to acquire extra land, thereby denying us access to the drains,” Mr Wahab said. 

(NAN)