In order to increase the infrastructure’s durability for public usage, the Lagos State Government has made a plea to its citizens to maintain it properly.

Tokunbo Wahab, the state’s commissioner for environment and water resources, made the call on his verified X handle on Monday, reassuring locals that regular cleaning of drainage channels will continue to be carried out by the state government to ensure their durability, particularly during the rainy season.

Wahab said, “I would like to appeal to all residents to take ownership of the public infrastructure provided by the government in their communities, ensure they protect the canals and drains from refuse dumping, and do away with encroaching on canals and drainage rights of way.

“We are cleaning up our infrastructure and making it more resilient, and this will be done continuously all year round, manually and mechanically across the state.

“As part of efforts to actualise its promise to sustain a flood-free Lagos, the Lagos State Government (@followlasg) has intensified the dredging and cleaning of major drainage channels and canals across the state.”

The commissioner also declared that he had instructed contractors who frequently cause traffic jams throughout the state by leaving abandoned building debris there to stop doing so.

“The team also visited Ilabere Drainage Channel, off McPherson Road, Ikoyi, where I directed immediate cleaning of the channels and served abatement notices to a contractor who placed construction materials on the road, thereby disrupting the free flow of traffic.

“Also, redesigning and reconstructing the System 44 drainage channel after the removal of structures on the setback will prevent flooding in the Lekki axis when the rains commence.”