Flood – Lagos Decides On Churches, Schools’ Demolition Monday

Daily Independent (Lagos)

Rotimi Akinwumi (Abuja) And Ekene Okoro

13 July 2011

Lagos — Federal legislators on Wednesday sought extra measures from Abuja and a climatic law to tackle flooding in Lagos, where over a dozen persons died and several homes and businesses were wrecked on Sunday by rain that fell 17 hours non-stop.

In Lagos itself, Governor Babatunde Fashola has directed that all illegal structures sitting on canals and drainage channels be pulled down, including churches, schools, and residential buildings.

A list of those earmarked for demotion is expected by July 18.

Fashola conducted another inspection on Wednesday to ascertain the damage in Lekki and Ajah, and expressed displeasure at structures erected without building plans.

He also decried careless refuse dumping.

Other areas he inspected included Maiyegun village, drainage channel at Silverbird Communications Lekki, Alpha Beach at Ijoko Agba, Ajiran drainage channel, Igbo Efon community, Agunbi/Ajiran drainage channel and Olugbolo community.

He spotted illegal structures on Coastal Road, not far from Silverbird Communications headquarters, which caused the flood in the area between Sunday and Monday.

Fashola reiterated that all the structures without planning permit from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development will be pulled down for water to flow into the right drainage channels and not into people’s homes.

He told the residents: “I have directed all ministries and agencies to go out and ensure that, while being civil and courteous, they strictly enforce the regulations.

“Many of the places where the impact of this flood is devastating are where people have built very closely to the canal which is like people literally going to meet the water in its course.

“They have disturbed its course, built along its path, and therefore after 17 hours of rainfall has exceeded its limits.

“In many of the places where we visited, I doubt if you will find a building permit for any of the buildings. There was no approval for all of these.

“Now, this is the challenge of urbanisation. You may argue that the government must do something but when people have already built before you lay out the plan, then it is an uphill task”.

Fashola said there is a limit to which government can go, and it now lies with the people to accept responsibility for and own public utilities.

He sympathised with residents and those who lost relatives and property, promising that the state will provide financial assistance to cushion the effects on especially those made homeless.

He disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan “is aware of what is happening and he has asked me to send his heartfelt commiseration and promised to see what he can do to salvage the situation.”

Fashola reiteriated commitment to prevent a future occurrence and implored Lagosians and other Nigerians to donate relief materials to those displaced by the flood.

House of Representatives members equally asked Jonathan to render help to the victims of flood in Lagos as well as those in Oyo, Delta, and other states.

A motion tabled by Yakoob Balogun (ACN, Lagos) led to a resolution which urged Jonathan to assent to the National Climate Change Commission Bill ending on his table since last year.

The Bill seeks, among others, to create a Climate Change Commission to coordinate response to disasters caused by climate change, deal with greenhouse emissions, and regulate the carbon market in Nigeria.

It is the first of its kind in Africa, according to experts.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa (ACN, Lagos) who seconded the motion, said the flood in Lagos is one of the effects of climate change that is beyond the capacity of the state government, which she said needed N7 billion to tackle the flood disaster last year, but Abuja provided only N700 million.

Samson Osagie (ACN, Edo) sought a review response to emergencies.

The House resolution called on the Ministry of Environment to use part of the ecological fund to solve the problem.

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