LP urges Sanwo-Olu to tackle perennial flooding

The Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State on Thursday called on Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to deploy the state resources to address flooding in the state.

The Publicity Secretary of the party, Mrs Olubunmi Odesanya, made call in a statement in Lagos on Thursday.

It was reported that the call followed the floods that hit most parts of the state on Wednesday, after a heavy downpour.

Odesanya said the state government had not done enough to address flooding, urging Sanwo-Olu to do more to tackle the perennial environmental problem.

“The heavy downpour of Wednesday in Lagos has finally exposed the derelict condition of the state and its neglect by the government.

“From Yaba, to Oshodi, Oshodi to Ketu, all of Ikorodu Road, Iyana Oworo, Iyana Iba, Ibeju-Lekki, Gbagada, Lekki and, in fact, all the 20 Local Governments in the state, everywhere was flooded.

“Many Lagos residents could not leave their homes due to the floods.

“Combining extreme poverty to high flooding is double tragedy. We strongly believe the state revenues are enough to tackle this menace,” the LP spokesperson said.

According to her, the government should ,as a matter of urgency, come up with permanent solution to the problem.

Odesanya recalled that several properties were demolished in some areas by the state government on the excuse that the properties were built on drainage channels, causing flooding.

She noted that the government had said after the demolitions that the state would no longer witness any flooding, going forward.

Odesanya said that Wednesday’s floods meant nothing much had been done to address the problem.

It was reported that the state’s Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, while giving an update about the floods, apologised to residents and commuters and residents.

Wahab, who noted that the floods were not due to the government’s lack of planning, said, “it was nature taking its full course.

Several cars and houses were submerged with many commuters and workers stranded in many parts of the state as a result of the floods.

Also there was gridlock on major roads, affecting economic activities in the state for several hours.