In a recent development, the Lagos State Government has issued a stern seven-day ultimatum to house owners residing in Shoreline Estate, Onikoyi Estate, Park View, and Banana Island within the Ikoyi area of the state. The directive mandates the removal of fences encroaching on drainage channels, as revealed during an inspection conducted by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, over the weekend.
Expressing concern over numerous buildings failing to maintain the standard 3-meter distance from the drainage channels, Wahab announced that, instead of the prescribed 3 meters, the government would accept a minimum of 2.5 meters. He cautioned that structures falling short of this requirement would face removal.
Wahab urged property owners to voluntarily dismantle encroaching fences within the stipulated seven-day period. He issued a warning, stating that failure to comply would result in the government utilizing taxpayers’ funds for enforcement, and property owners would be held accountable for the incurred expenses.
A statement released on Sunday by Kunle Adeshina, the Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, quoted Wahab as saying, “On investigation, we found out that the first property situated along Onikoyi/Banana Island collector situated inside Onikoyi Estate left 2.5 metres for the drainage setback, and for us to have a balanced situation we will magnanimously adopt 2.5 metres which is smaller than the 3 metres required by law.”
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The statement emphasized that property owners and residents along the specified collector drain have been granted a seven-day grace period to adjust their fences, adhering to the 2.5-meter drainage setback. Enforcement measures will be implemented immediately following the expiration of the mandatory notice.
Source: AfricaHousingNews