Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands

Lagos, others sign treaty against flood

By Dada Aladelokun

The battle against flood in the Lagos metropolis gathered steam yesterday as the state government led other stakeholders to sign a treaty with some residents.

It was in a bid to get the residents involved in the task of keeping drainage channels in the city, filth-free.

Jointly initiated by the state government and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the scheme is being jointly facilitated by Clean-Up Nigeria (CUN) and National Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR).

Taking off the crusade, a model participatory clearing of Falomo channel, Ikoyi was also commissioned.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, was represented at the event which took place at Unipetrol Filling Station, Ikoyi, by the state's Director of Drainage, Engineer Rasheed Gbajabiamila.

Others in attendance included: Prince Ene Baba Owoh Jnr, Chairman, CUN; Dr. Tony Maduekwe, representative of UNESCO in Nigeria; Dr. Shina Simpson of Research Forum Associates (RFA) and Alhaji Adeniyi Ogunbambi who represented Falomo residents.

The Environment Commissioner, who spoke through Gbajabiamila praised Clean-Up Nigeria and other stakeholders for the initiative, pledging the state government's unflinching commitment to de-flooding the mega-city through constant maintenance of the channels.

He also urged residents of other parts of the state to embrace the Falomo example and further imbibe the culture of cleanliness.

Madueke expressed the passionate concern of UNESCO in ensuring a flood-free Lagos, stating that it was ever-ready to be part of such projects.

He urged residents and corporate bodies to show more interest in the health of their environment.

Owoh Jnr who echoed his views hinted that CUN had started distributing 5000 copies of stickers to residents of Falomo in efforts to heighten its enlightenment crusade to change people's indecent attitude to their environment.

source: The Comet, Friday, August 29, 2003