The Lagos State government, Wednesday gave all traders operating illegal markets/shanties on System 6c drainage channel setback and alignment at Odo-Ashimawu at Cele bus stop on Apapa Oshodi Expressway the marching order to immediately vacate the area following the expiration of the abatement notices earlier served.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, who led state officials gave the order after an inspection tour to the system 6c Cele/Ilasa drainage channel saying that government must take action to redress the various human activities that had totally blocked the canal.
Wahab said ensuring a clean and flood-free environment was a major task which the administration was committed to and would not relent in efforts to achieve it.
He said last year, several complaints of illegal activities were received about the System 6c channel from residents within the vicinity, hence the undertaking of the visit.
“Activities such as trading and construction of shanties under the Cele Pedestrian bridge as well as under the bridge harbouring illegal market, Abattoir and criminals living in shanties on System 6c, Odo Ashimawu cannot continue; enforcement team were earlier deployed to do a reconnaissance and they came with a feedback,” he said.
He stressed that the illegal/ unwholesome activities were not just about marketing and trading but various contravening structures/ shanties that have been erected on the channel, under the bridge as well as on the major channel.
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He said the illegal human activities going on around the area went beyond environmental and safety issues because the major channel had been turned into a major incinerator for all.
He explained that the state government was not against the operation of markets but traders must operate in designated markets and traders should desist from erecting of shanties on drainage channels, drainage set backs, kerbs, open spaces amongst others.
He explained that the traders operating illegally along System 6c Odo – Ashimawu, Cele Expressway had been served quit notices since last week and that the removal must commence immediately.
He said the removal operation which would stretch till the weekend would also include the pedestrian bridge, under the bridge and on the whole stretch of the drainage channel.
“It’s not enough to clear and cart silt from the drainage path but it’s about the human activities going around here; if you have a market illegally being operated around here and they dump their waste in canal, even if the government cleans up the canals every day, traders operating illegally would still continue dumping their wastes in the canals,” he said.
The commissioner reiterated that the local government was saddled with the responsibility of building a proper market for traders adding that that was being carried out appropriately advising traders to put designated markets to proper use.
The commissioner advised residents to avoid indiscriminate waste disposal and always bear in mind that climate change and global warming was real, enjoining residents to always take ownership of infrastructure built for their benefit.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, advised traders to desist from selling on the roads, medians and sidewalks because studies had shown that refuse generated from their sales most times are dumped on the roads saying, it was regrettable that many of the channels that were earlier cleaned were being littered with refuse.
He added that residents should always maintain the drainages especially the tertiary ones and bear in mind that the infrastructure had been provided with taxes paid to government.
Amongst those who accompanied the commissioner were the Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Permanent Secretaries, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji and Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; Managing Director LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegeshin; GM LASWAMO, Engr. Femi Afolabi; KAI Corps Marshal, Major Olatubosun Cole (Rtd) and some directors.
