Lagos State Dedicates Special Day For Clearing Drains And Canals

                                                                                                                                                                                                   The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, on Thursday said the June 25 environmental exercise would be dedicated to the clearing of drains and canals in the state.

Tunde Awobiyi, the Ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, in a statement said the clearing would allow for free flow of water as the rainy season gathers momentum.

The statement quoted Adejare as having said: “The sanitation will be observed statewide between 7am and 10am on June 25, during which there will be restriction of human and vehicular movement across the state.

“Lagosians are expected to come out en-masse to clean and clear the drains in their neighbourhood so as to continually prevent flooding in the state.

“As we are all aware, Lagos is a coastal city that has high water table levels, and prone to flash-floods whenever it rains.

“We must, therefore, imbibe habits which will reduce to the barest minimum the incidence of flooding in the state.”

The Commissioner said the period of environmental sanitation should not be used for any social engagement or sporting activities, but for serious cleaning.

“The target of the state this year is to sustain past record of flood abatement and this can only be achieved through effective collaboration of the people,” he said.

Adejare advised residents to desist from dumping waste arbitrarily into the drainage and canals in order to maintain a flood-free Lagos.

He also warned residents who still patronise cart pushers to desist from the illegal act as it was still an offence.

He also advised the residents to dispose their waste through the Lagos Waste Management Authority/Private Sector Participants Operators.

Adejare, however, urged them to keep their environment clean at all times and free from storm water stagnation, which could also be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

He warned inter-state Bus and Luxurious Bus Operators, Transport Owners and Road Transport Workers to comply with the restriction order on human and vehicular movement between 7am and 10am.

The commissioner said anyone caught violating the order would be apprehended and prosecuted, while passengers in such vehicles would be prosecuted.

Adejare said the Police, LAWMA, Lagos State Transport Management Authority and Kick Against Indiscipline officials have been mobilised to enforce the restriction of movement order