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Orders Demolition of Building, 10 Others
- Safiu Kehinde
The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has challenged officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to a building construction allegedly built on a sand-filled canal channel.
The NSCDC officials were alleged to have repeatedly denied government officials access to inspect the property.
They would be challenged by Wahab who, on Sunday, embarked on inspection of critical drainage infrastructures which were discovered to be obstructed with illegal structures, causing heavy flood across the state.
NPO Reported that several areas across the state were yesterday engulfed by flood after hours of heavy downpour.
While the commissioner had during the inspection ordered demolition of some structures, Wahab revealed being confronted by 15 NSCDC officials at one of the illegal properties.
The commissioner made this known in a post shared on his X on Monday.
He disclosed the discovery of the building alongside 10 others constructed on sand-filled wetlands and canal alignments.
According to Wahab, some of the buildings were located within gated estate with security personnel deployed to deny government officials from gaining access into the properties for inspection.
The Commissioner recounted forcing his way into the property guarded by the NSCDC officials.
“Let me explain the challenge we face with the incessant illegal sand-filling of wetlands and canal alignments.
“While the government has erected warning signposts across many of these vulnerable areas, a significant number of these illegal activities take place within gated estates.
“In many cases, unscrupulous developers instruct security personnel to deny government officials access for inspections, deliberately frustrating enforcement efforts and obstructing regulatory oversight.
“During our inspection yesterday, I personally had to open the gate of an estate to enable our enforcement team gain access to a site where illegal sand-filling was taking place.
“Our inspection revealed that about 10 buildings had been constructed directly on a canal, obstructing the natural flow of water and causing severe backflow into a neighbouring community.
“In another estate, more than 15 Civil Defence personnel had been engaged to provide security for an illegal construction on a canal alignment. ” He said.
Wahab thereafter disclosed that the constructions will be demolished today with their owners given opportunity to defend their actions.
“Enforcement action has commenced, and those structures will begin to be removed today.
“The property owners will also be given the opportunity to defend their actions before the appropriate legal authorities.
“No individual or developer will be allowed to endanger the lives and property of millions of Lagosians through illegal reclamation and encroachment on our waterways.” The Commissioner added.