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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Houses on drainage channels in Lagos to be demolished soonKAZEEM UGBODAGAIN a determined effort to rid the state of flood, Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu on Tuesday vowed that the administration would soon commence the demolition of buildings on canals and drainage channels in Victoria Island, including a multibillion naira six-storey building belonging to a popular elite. The Governor, who led a team of top government officials on an inspection tour of drainages at Victoria Island, gave an option to the affected people either to foot the bills for the rehabilitation of the drainages or have their buildings demolished. Tinubu lamented that most of the violators were popular elites whobreached the laws by procuring plans and erected buildings on canals, thereby, obstructing drainage flow, leading to massive flooding of the Island. According to him, �those elites should do what is necessary or we will bring down their buildings. They have violated building regulations and it is a problem of corruption in our system. The elites will pay the price, some of the buildings will go.� The Governor stated that relevant agencies would swing into action immediately to commence the demolition adding that those involved in the illegal construction were incidentally the critics of the state government�s policies, adding that the demolition exercise and rehabilitation of the canals and drainages would cost the government hundreds of millions of naira. The Governor also vowed to bring to book officials found wanting in granting illegal approval for the erection of buildings on canals and drainages, emphasising that the buildings must be pulled down. Tinubu added that what the state was doing at present was the short term measure which would require lots of money, adding that for the state to effectively combat flood, it would need between N2.5 to N3 billion. The Governor, however, said he was satisfied with the level of work done so far on the Mcgregor canal and other drainages across the state, while he assured the over 35,000 residents of Dolphin Estate of Government�s determination to rid the estate of flood Areas visited by the governor included the Itirin canal in Victoria Island, where it was found that a multibillion naira building was erected on the canal; the Osborne Foreshore; Dolphin Estate and the Atunrashe canal at Gbagada Estate.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004 |
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