The Lagos State Government has offered an explanation for the demolition of buildings in the Maryland area of the state.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, offered the explanation on Sunday.
Wahab, who spoke on a Channels Television programme: “Sunday Politics,” said the demolished properties hindered the flow of the drainage in the Mende area of Maryland.
He said the buildings obstructed the System 1 Drainage Right of Way, adding that if this was not done, the whole of the mainland area of the state would be flooded as the rains for the year set it.
He equally said it was not true that the property owners were not served notices before the demolition.
Wahab said: “They claimed they were not served notices.
“They were served.
“They had come for meetings several times.
“The residents’ association had met with the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Mahmood Adekunle Adegbite, severally in my office.
“So, on what basis were they having meetings if they were not served?
“The first notices were served on them in 2021.
“Each of the property owners on System 1 were duly written that they should remove their encumbrances because they were sitting on Systems 1.
“That led to engagements with my predecessor in office, Mr. Tunji Bello.”
Wahab said on assumption of office last year, the Ministry wrote to the residents because “these properties were sitting on System 1 Right of Way, that is Odo Iya Alaro Right of Way”.
He said the owners of the affected buildings were served personally and their properties were marked subsequently.
He said: “We didn’t just go there, we also engaged them.”
