18th July, 2011
The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje, on Sunday urged the Federal Government to release funds to the state to ameliorate the devastation caused by the recent flood.
Jeje told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the effects of the July 10 rain and its attendant flood on human settlements were devastating.
“The effect of that rain on human settlement was devastating and aside from taking many lives, it also destroyed many homes and properties,†he said.
While commiserating with the victims, the commissioner urged residents of the state to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels.
Jeje also appealed to people who built on “drainage setbacks†to remove them in the interest of other citizens.
According to him, buildings on drainage setbacks constitute the biggest threat to the free flow of water.
He noted that adequate housing was a major challenge in megacities worldwide, and that Lagos as an emerging megacity, was no exception.
Jeje said the loss of many homes to the flood had worsened the housing situation in the state, which, he said had a housing deficit of more than 500,000.