Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu has approved the creation of Tertiary Drains Squad (TDS) in the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in the state.
The Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Joe Igbokwe, made this known at the second stakeholders’ meeting with LGs and LCDAs on cleaning and maintenance of tertiary drains in Lagos.
According to Igbokwe, the Squad will complement the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang at the state level to ensure that tertiary drains properly discharge into primary and secondary drains.
He explained that with the employment of 50 drainage attendants that would be paid a minimum of N35,000 monthly, the councils would spend less, but achieve more, compared to what they spend to clean tertiary drains.
“I am confident that this second forum will afford us the opportunity to agree on best practices to resolve all the issues concerning the cleaning and maintenance of tertiary drains which are the drains that run across our tenements and how local councils should be at the forefront of monitoring and compelling residents to clean the tertiary drains across the state,” he said.
Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Lekan Shodeinde said the time had come for councils to take up their constitutional roles of tertiary drainage maintenance, stressing that all hands must be on deck as the administration is determined to ensure a flood-free Lagos.
He disclosed that the State Drainage Engineers and Coordinators are available in all our 57 Local Governments Areas and Local Council
He appealed to Lagosians to always report cases of drainage blockages, indiscriminate dumping of waste into canals and other unauthorized places to the state Government through the CITIMONITOR APP from Google play store and IStore to report any environmental infraction across the state.
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