Stop Dumping Refuse in Drains—Lagos PPP Office Warns Residents

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Residents of Lagos State have been warned to desist from dumping refuse in drains as this could put lives and property in the metropolis under threat.

This warning was given by the Lagos State government through the Office of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public-Private Partnerships, Mr Ope George, said the clogging of drains with silt and refuse by residents was the reason behind flooding witnessed in the state whenever it rains.

“We are all aware that Lagos is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The rains are here again, and the weather forecasts have shown that we should expect a lot of rain this year.

“Clogging the drains with silt and refuse puts all of us at risk of preventable flooding and attendant threat to lives and property during the rainy season. Therefore, let us desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse on water channels.

“Motorists should also avoid driving through flooded areas during rainfall in order to prevent avoidable accidents and loss of lives,” the aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Lagos PPP Office.

Recently, the state was almost submerged in water as a result of heavy downpours and the state government was lambasted by several people for not finding a lasting solution to the perennial flooding in the aquatic city, which aims to become a mega and smart city.

But Mr George blamed residents of the state for the issue, stating that the recent flooding and the subsequent loss of lives and property were avoidable if all residents had heeded the advice not to block the drains with waste.

He decried the poor attitude of many residents to the environment as impacting negatively on the efforts and huge investments made by the state government to ensure a flood-free Lagos.

“Flood control is a key component of the T.H.E.M.E Agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration because a flood-free Lagos is critical to the realization of the Greater Lagos vision.

“A good environment will promote the inflow of foreign and local investments as well as raise the quality of life for Lagos residents. So, as citizens, we must play our part by ensuring we clean, clear, and dredge our drains and major collectors for the proper discharge of rain waters,” he said.