LASG URGES PROPERTY DEVELOPERS TO OBTAIN DRAINAGE CLEARANCE, EIA BEFORE RECLAMATION
The Lagos State Government on Friday urged property developers to always obtain Drainage Clearance and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources before reclamation/dredging and sand filling to avert any form of disaster in future in the State.
Speaking with journalists at Orange Island during an inspection tour to some areas in Lekki, Eti-Osa LGA, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab said that the government would not condone further illegal dredging/reclamation across the state.
He said the EIA/Drainage clearance would ensure that the reclamation does not extend beyond the drainage alignment and the discharge of stormwater does not affect the ecosystem.
Wahab said the team had to visit the Orange Island following several complaints from residents, directing that the ongoing illegal dredging/reclamation must stop immediately because there are a lot of outlets that discharge into the Orange Island lagoon.
"The ongoing reclamation at the Orange Island must stop because the developers doing it have sandfilled and pushed beyond the limits into the right of way of Orange Island Lagoon," he said.
According to him, we have various water bodies that discharge into the Orange Island Lagoon. On one side, there is the water body where the Kushenla system, which we are working on to control flooding in the area, discharges into the Lagoon.
"The Itedo system also discharges into this lagoon as well as several other water bodies. So, you can not come and try to dredge and cover up this space. That is a recipe for flooding issues in this axis and environs. Which is why we are here to stop them from doing anything here," he added.
Wahab said the developers claimed they have approvals from some agencies, adding that any approval given without obtaining the Drainage Clearance and Environmental Impacts Assessment (EIA) certificate from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources remains invalid, thereby invalidating the dredging.
The Commissioner and his team also visited Oral Estate for re-evaluation and assessment on the removal of the contraventions on the Ikota River to have a win-win solution with the residents on how to proffer lasting solutions to flooding in the area.
He said it is necessary to remove the contraventions on the right of way of the Ikota River because the Ikota River is the only channel that supports the Atlantic on the axis.
"The truth is the Right of Way of Ikota River had been badly encroached upon by a lot of developments; God forbid anything happens on the other side of the Atlantic, the only way the government can save the whole of the Island is through the Ikota River and that is why the Right of Way of Ikota River needs to be re- established as soon as possible" he said.
He explained that there are some buildings constructed on the bank of the Ikota River, saying that some major channels, such as System 156, 157, 44 and 44A, and 46, all discharge into the Ikota River, and the re-establishment of the right of way for the Ikota River is not optional.
He revealed that most parts of the Island and Lekki were reclaimed sites, which are major contributors to flooding, and as such, the Government cannot afford further reclamation of stormwater paths.
He said the government has made it mandatory for the developers to install sheet piles, as this installation would push back further encroachment and ensure that development does not go beyond the ROW in the future.
Wahab stressed that the developers would bear the cost of the installation of the sheet piles as a way of sanctioning them, saying that the installation would also mitigate the impact of flooding on the ROW of the Ikota River, most especially, it would reduce the number of buildings initially marked to be pulled down.
"I would like to reiterate that the installation of sheet piles is compulsory and non-negotiable; I expect that by Monday, the developers will show commitment that they are ready to install them, and that it will not take them more than seven days. Once we do not see these commitments, we will commence enforcement," he said.
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