Lagos LG chairman flags off community de-flooding exercise

By Kazeem Akande

The Executive Chairman, Agege Local Government, Lagos State Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi, has flagged off a de-flooding exercise in the area tagged ‘Operation Clean-Up Agege’.

Egunjobi, during the exercise on Thursday, charged residents to desist from dumping refuse indiscriminately and avoid blocking drains.

According to him, the clean-up operation is designed for execution in batches, as a preventive measure against flooding and epidemic outbreak within the council area.

“As the rainy season continues, we have desire to ensure that Agege environs are clean and healthy for living.

“We are wasting no time in hitting the ground running by flagging off ‘Operation  Clean Up Agege’ as a proactive mechanism to combat perennial flooding.

“This will also tackle messy environment and create awareness and enforcement of sanitation laws,” he said.

Egunjobi said that some council officials had been assigned to oversee the exercise in batches across various streets in Agege community.

According to him, the management of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is also involved to cart away resultant refuse during the exercise.

The council boss said the areas prone to flooding in Awori Community, including Kadiri, Disu Akogun, Adeyinka and other streets, were inspected to know the challenges and lasting solutions to the problem.

Mr Taiwo Awonuga, the Council Head of Environmental Services, in his remarks, implored the residents, especially those in the waterlogged areas, to ensure their drainage channels were free of refuse.

He advised the residents to report any erring resident to the local government for necessary sanction, as failure to do so could affect the entire community, if the drains were blocked.

Mr Akingbade Oke, the Council Supervisor for Environment, while giving his remarks, said that the council would not hesitate to embark on the repair of some culverts, drains and channels in the affected areas.

“We will embark on massive desilting of drainage system so as to have free channel drainage that allows free flow of water before, during and after the rainy season.

Mr Olayiwola Emmanuel, the Special Adviser on Environment, said that routine checks on drains would be sustained.

“The Department of Environmental services will continue to be effective in deploying swift mechanism and strategy in preventing much environmental havoc within the council area.

“This will be done by sensitising the residents on sanitation procedures and enforcing the sanitation laws on defaulters, because ensuring a cleaner and healthier aesthetic environment is our collective responsibility,” he said

(NAN)