Following Saturday’s heavy rains that wrecked havoc in several areas of Lagos state, the Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Engr. Joe Igbokwe has tendered an unreserved apology to Lagosians on behalf of the ministry and the government.
In a press statement released on Sunday, Igbokwe apologised and explained that the disaster was caused by the coastal nature of the state even as he decried the high rate at which residents build houses on drainage paths.
“We acknowledge the damage done by floods in Lagos yesterday and the losses. We apologise most sincerely for the pains and tears. We share the pains with those affected. Lagos is a coastal city that is prone to flooding. Everybody knows this. Lagos has the smallest land mass in Nigeria with 23 million Nigerians.
“It (Lagos) is the economic hub of Nigeria. Lagos generates more than 15,000 metric tons of refuse every day. We have low-line areas where people are not supposed to build houses but Lagosians go there to build houses.
He added although flooding is a global issue but to achieve a flood-free Lagos, residents most complement government relentless efforts in proffering lasting solution to the menace by way of being responsible to their environment.
“We have wetlands which serve as reservoirs to retain excess floods but Lagosians will defy the law and go there to build houses. To make matters worse, some Lagosians dump refuse inside our drains or canals. Some build houses on our canal setbacks making it difficult if not impossible for us to clear the drains. We need to change our habits to help us have flood-free Lagos. Lagos spends huge amount of money every year cleaning canals and aligning many of them with concretes.
“We will reduce flooding issues if we behave ourselves. Flooding is a global thing due to Climate Change. The other day, I witnessed massive flooding in Sidney, Australia. You need to see the casualties. We will continue to do our best in matters of flood management in Lagos. We are appealing to Lagosians to help us,” the statement read.
