Joe Igbokwe should have been given a wider portfolio called commissioner of urban renewal

By Ayo Akinfe 

[1] Over the last 24 hours or so, Joe Igbokwe has been subjected to a lot of ridicule after he got appointed as the special adviser to the Lagos State governor on drainage and water resources. We are talking about Lagos that becomes a marshland during the rainy season months, especially between June and October. Right?

[2] Am I missing something here because from what I know of Lagos, this is a very important position, given the unique challenges the state faces. I do not know of one other city in Africa, apart from maybe Aba, that has the same drainage challenges as Lagos does

[3] As we all know, the city of Lagos has 12m, inhabitants, while the state as a whole has 22m people living in it. Over the last 30 years, the population of Lagos has just ballooned out of control, bringing with it the usual challenges of urban centres

[4] Because of the lack of a state housing policy, houses are built willy nilly, with no regard for the environment. This means that in places where drainage waterways should be, you have houses. Where there should be gutters you have shops and where there should be open spaces, you have markets

[5] Also, there are no gutters built in many of the areas that badly need them and even where they are built, our people block them with refuse. All it takes is a little rainfall and the streets become flooded and impassible 

[6] I am still waiting for someone to name me three jobs in the government of Lagos State that are more important than the drainage and water resources portfolio. At the moment, maybe only transport is more urgent as I see mass transit as the biggest challenge Lagos is facing

[7] My only criticism of Joe Igbokwe's appointment is that he was not made a fully fledged commissioner. I think he should have been named a commissioner with a big budget, at least two agencies and two parastatals under him and a licence to build gutters and drains wherever he deems fit. Mr Igbokwe should have the authority to demolish houses that are blocking areas where he thinks drainage networks should be

[8] What is happening in Lagos and Aba is typical of the way every urban metropolis develops. They grow faster than the infrastructure, so at some stage, the authorities need to step in, purchase property and engage in urban renewal. Maybe Joe Igbokwe should have been named as commissioner for urban renewal. Now, that would have given him real teeth

[9] Just imagine the impact Mr Igbokwe would have had if he was allowed to hand out compulsory purchase orders, relocate communities, build new housing apartments for those whose properties have been taken over by the government and totally rebuild Isale Eko where buildings are collapsing every day 

[10] Going forward, Lagos desperately needs a commissioner for urban renewal. I just hope Mr Igbokwe does enough in addressing the drainage problem to have his portfolio upgraded. For now, please sort out these floods Joe. We wish you the best of luck with your new undertaking.