Lagos , FG move to relocate Ikoyi Prisons over pollution

Babatunde Adejare, Commissioner for the Environment

Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos and Federal Governments are in talks over the relocation of the Ikoyi Prisons built in 1955 due to the environmental nuisance it presently constitutes in the state.

Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare revealed this while fielding questions from journalists shortly after monitoring the October edition of the monthly environmental sanitation in Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

Adejare said the 61-year old facility had outlived its usefulness and needed to be relocated.

“We also visited Ikoyi prison to see the challenge there. I can assure you that we will tackle it. We will see how we would work with the Federal Prison Service to ensure that we provide sewage system.

“There is a larger thing coming into play soon; that is relocation of the prison. The facility had passed its usefulness. The most valuable land in Africa is there. We should not have such in that location. We are discussing with the Federal Government to deal with the relocation.

“In the interim, the Lagos State Government will provide the prison with better sewage system. They can also relocate the facility when the prison is relocated. His Excellency will come out with the official statement,” he stated.

Adejare, who harped on the environmental challenges facing Dolphin and Osborne Estates, said the problem in the estates premised on flooding.

“There will be need to deepen some certain part of the roads within the estate. A lot of the Lagoon way flows into the estate whenever there are tidal waves. And that was why we have been sensitizing the public on climate change. The estates had existed over 30 years and the estate had never recorded such flood like this.

“There is an issue and we are saying it is climate change. Larger percent of the world water are kept as ice but they are melting at a high rate. As a government, we will work with the residents to address the issue,” he said.

Sole Administrator of Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area, Felix Ona-Olawale said the government would no-longer tolerate illegal structures in the area.

According to him, “the structures erected on the right of way at the canal on Ribadu Street will not return. We will be working with the garrison commander and other security agencies. We will work to ensure a gate is erected to prevent further encroachment on the facility.”