22nd February, 2012
The Lagos State Commissioner for The Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, on Tuesday said his ministry had mapped out plans to combat floods with the onset of the rainy season.
Bello spoke when he appeared at the plenary session of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
He said the ministry had started its pre-rainy season maintenance, which would last till April, as part of the efforts to curtail floodings in the state.
The commissioner explained that the maintenance and the dredging of primary, secondary and tertiary channels and drainage had started in many areas of the state.
Bello told the lawmakers that the ministry had established links with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority, to share information on any urgent unfavourable weather condition.
He also said that the inspection of markets had started and some of them had been closed due to their refusal to comply with laid down rules and regulations.
The commissioner urged the lawmakers to assist the ministry in sensitising their constituents on enviromental issues.
The ministry shut some Lagos markets, including the Ladipo and Agbado-Oke Odo Markets, owing to their non-compliance with environmental regulations.
In his contribution, Mr. Segun Olulade, (ACN/Epe Constituency 1), said the activities of health officials were no longer felt in the various communities.
He said that this was unlike what obtained in the past when vibrant health officials carried out their duties effectively.
Olulade also noted that cart pushers were dumping their refuse in drainage channels.
Also contributing, Mr. Suru Avoseh, representing Badagry 1, said that the ministry should do something urgently to ensure that people properly disposed their waste.