By: Manoah Kikekon 

Demolition [credit: NAN].

Lagos state government has demolished some street gates, security posts, and house fences built on drainage channels and canals in the Okota area of the state.

The operation was carried out on Friday by the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) and the Ministry of Environment, led by Corps Marshall Maj. Olaniyi Cole rtd.

The operation was carried out at Liberty, Paris, Victory, and Hosanna Goodness Estates, all in the Okota area.

Some street gates, house fences, and a security post were allegedly constructed on drainage channels and canals.

It was also discovered that a security post's toilet was built on drainage, as were many illegal structures, including Oodua People's Congress (OPC) houses with shrines built near a major canal in the area.

Mr Cole stated that some estate residents petitioned the commissioner of the environment about the constant flooding they experienced whenever it rained, which was caused by the illegal structures blocking the canals and drainages.

Mr Cole stated that they were given the order to demolish all illegal structures, and that the affected estates and houses were given 48 hours to remove the structures.

He stated that for every government-approved plot of land, the fence must be built 10 metres from the canal and drainage.

Adekoya Adedeji of the Drainage Office, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, attributed the flooding in many parts of the state to human activities.

Mr Adedeji stated that during the operation on Friday, some people deliberately blocked the waterways by erecting fences, shanties, and houses along the way.

"People must understand that everything the government does is in the best interest of everyone.

"As a government, we will not rest on our effort to ensure that all illegal structures on canals, drainages and other public ways responsible for flooding are cleared for a flood-free Lagos," he stated.

Some estate residents who spoke with journalists praised the government for taking the bold step of removing illegal structures.

Austin Odinaka, a resident, stated that the street gate built around his street always caused flooding, forcing them to travel longer distances out of the estate.

Another resident, Sunny, stated that they attempted to intervene while the construction of some street gates was underway, but were ignored by the project's initiators.

However, Mr Sunny blamed some Lagos state government officials and the area's traditional ruler for collecting money and allowing the illegal structures to be built.

Nancy Okafor, a victim whose illegal structure was marked for demolition along the canal, stated that she purchased the land from Odo Chibuzor for N536,000 and gave the receipt to the corps marshal as evidence.

(NAN)