Behind The Scenes Of Lagos Massive Demolition Exercise – Tokunbo Wahab

Tokunbo Wahab has explained why the Lagos government has been aggressive with its demolition exercise.

Eko Hot Blog reports that Tokunbo Wahab, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, says the state government’s enforcement actions regarding the sanctity of state environmental laws were informed by the interest of the greater majority of residents.

He spoke over the weekend during a conversation with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Lagos State chapter led by ESV Olayinka Patunola-Ajayi at the Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island.

Wahab, who is the Lagos government’s face of demolishing structures it says are illegal or blocking drainage channels, has been under fire in some quarters in recent months.

However, the commissioner said most of the enforcement actions were pre-emptive and they accounted for the almost zero fatalities that would have been experienced around the state with the magnitude of rainfall it experienced.

He explained that for an area like System I Odo Iya Alaro, Maryland and adjoining areas if the ministry had not taken some hard decisions of removing some structures at Mende Villa Estate, several areas would have experienced unprecedented flooding during the latest rainfalls

Wahab added that the safe pre-emptive measures saved the souls of several residents of Oke Afa/Bucknor who have suffered for several years because a few residents for selfish reasons chose to construct in the middle of the channel.

He reminded all those who criticise all actions of the government on the state of the environment for criticism’s sake without proffering alternatives that the time for politics is gone and it is now time for governance.

Wahab also charged the Estate Surveyors to always engage in due diligence for all construction they want to embark upon or supervise by ensuring that drainage clearance permit is obtained for all structures located near drainages.

He reiterated that the state government is investing in resilient infrastructure that ensures that the state can contain run-off of heavy rainfalls which ensures that flood water subsides a few hours after the rainfall.