By Felix Kuyinu
Lawmaker at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rasheed Shabi, has urged the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on ensuring proper drainage system in forestalling flood happenings during the impending raining season.
Shabi of the All Progressive Congress, APC, representing Lagos Mainland Constituecy 02 said that the clearing of major canals across Lagos should be intensified to prevent flooding in the metropolis.
The legislator, Chairman, Committee on Environment at the Assembly, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Sunday
He called on Sanwo-Olu to reactivate the Office of Drainage Services to clear all drainage channels and ensure proper refuse disposal.
The lawmaker also beseeched the State’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Oluyinka Olumide, to clear illegal structures on setbacks of canals across the state.
At the grassroot, the House member equally admonished the local governments and local council development areas to inculcate in people the habit of regular clearing of drainages in their places of abode.
Shabi noted that there is a lot to do in order to realize and maintain proper drainage system in the state. He said, “Though the causes of the flood have been natural and man-made, there is a need for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to be proficient in their duties.
“I want to urge the Ministry of the Environment to explain what they have done in the last year, and, most importantly, people should stop dumping refuse in drainage channels.
“The enforcement agencies should also clamp down on people engaging in indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
“The indiscriminate erection of buildings near water banks should also be looked into. The situation must be urgently addressed to avert further flood disaster”.
