The Lagos State Government has ordered owners of buildings erected on drainage alignments and channels in several upscale areas to vacate their properties or face forceful demolition. Some of the affected areas include: 1. Dolphin Estate, 2. Osborne Foreshore Estate, 3. Lekki, 4. Osapa London, 5. Ikota, 6. Ogombo and 7. Ikoyi.
The announcement given by the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, comes as the aftermath of devastating floods that put several lives in danger and wrecked severe damage on properties in the state a few weeks ago.
However, this step coming several weeks after the damage caused by the floods raises questions about the issue of regulation of construction in the state.
Several of the affected buildings have been erected for years, with no one bothering to ascertain their compliance with existing regulations. Instead, Governor Ambode came out to blame the low tax compliance level for government’s inability to control the situation.
While the orders, if followed thoroughly, might solve the issue of flooding, it only goes on to increase fears about the likelihood of other disasters happening due to delayed government action.
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