Osborne flooding : Developer denies canal encroachment, claims N160 million drainage spending

Property developer, Chief Ken Ukaoha, has denied allegations that his improvement at Abba Court, Mahogany Close, Osborne Foreshore Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, obstructed a canal and contributed to flooding within the property.

Ukaoha, related to Kenshad International Limited and Kensha Group Limited, insisted that the canal passing via his property serves the Ilubirin axis and isn’t related to the drainage system serving different components of Osborne Estate.

Speaking with journalists throughout a fact-finding go to to the property, he described the allegations as a misrepresentation of the property’s drainage challenges, attributing the flooding to its low-lying terrain, gathered silt and rising strain on present infrastructure.

He defined that Osborne was developed on sand-filled land, which had continued to settle over time, affecting roads and drainage amenities.
“Osborne is a sand-filled land. The extra the land settles, the extra the infrastructure and the roads go down. That is definitely a part of the issue.

“When I first came here, this whole development was not here. There was no pressure on the infrastructure. But today, you have more buildings, and the volume of water that comes into the area has increased,” he stated.

The developer disclosed that his firm had spent N160 million on dredging and drainage upkeep inside two years, comprising N100 million final yr and N60 million this yr.

He stated long-reach excavators have been engaged to take away gathered mud and restore the drainage channels’ capability, including that the property administration may confirm the expenditure.

“This year, we paid N60 million. We brought in long-reach excavators. Each long excavator charges us N1 million daily. Last year, we spent N100 million. I will give you all the payment details and the name of the company. You can go and do your verification,” he stated.

Ukaoha proposed reconstructing the key canal, constructing a reservoir and putting in three industrial pumping machines to discharge extra water into the lagoon whereas stopping tidal water from flowing again into the property.

He disclosed {that a} technical design for the proposed intervention had been developed with the Federal Government and submitted to the property administration and affiliation.

On allegations of establishing beneath high-tension electrical energy traces, constructing with out permits and utilizing his Federal Government connection to accumulate land improperly, Ukaoha described the claims as unfounded.

He stated his firm’s involvement was via a Public-Private Partnership association with the Federal Government based mostly on a Build, Operate and Transfer mannequin.

He additionally attributed the controversy partly to a three-year disagreement with one other particular person over entry to a gate close to a transformer he put in.

He alleged that the Lagos State Government had directed each events to droop actions on the disputed location pending decision.

Ukaoha additional denied intentionally denying Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, entry to the property throughout his October 31, 2026 go to to the property, explaining that he was in London on the time.

He stated he had directed building websites to shut following a round from the property administration.

Expressing help for cooperation amongst authorities, residents, property administration and builders, Ukaoha stated he had invested in Osborne for practically 20 years, together with street and drainage interventions.

“My only concern is that we should find a way to improve the estate instead of looking for a scapegoat to blame somebody who did nothing,” he stated.

Ukaoha attributed the flooding problem to the low-lying nature of Osborne, explaining that the property was developed on sand-filled land, which had continued to settle over time, affecting roads, drainage infrastructure and the overall capability of the atmosphere to accommodate stormwater.

“Osborne is a sand-filled land. The extra the land settles, the extra the infrastructure and the roads go down. That is definitely a part of the issue.

“When I first came here, this whole development was not here. There was no pressure on the infrastructure. But today, you have more buildings, and the volume of water that comes into the area has increased,” he stated.

He disclosed that his firm had spent about N160 million on dredging and drainage upkeep inside two years, comprising N100 million final yr and one other N60 million this yr.

He stated the intervention concerned the engagement of long-reach excavators to take away gathered mud and silt from drainage channels.

“This yr, we paid N60 million. We introduced in long-reach excavators. Each lengthy excavator costs us N1 million every day. You can go and discover out from the property administration. They know when the excavators got here in and once they left.

“Last year, before this year, we spent N100 million. I will give you all the payment details and the name of the company. You can go and do your verification,” he stated.

The developr maintained that the buildup of mud had considerably diminished the water-carrying capability of the canals, making it troublesome for them to discharge extra water throughout heavy rainfall.

“The canal there is stuffed with mud. It is not only a canal with water flowing via it. When we excavate, the mud is sort of 10 metres deep. Until we take away the gathered mud, that’s the solely time the canal might be free.

“When water comes, it stays on top of the mud. That is part of the problem,” he added.

On the way to completely handle the flooding problem, Ukaoha proposed a complete reconstruction of the key canal, the creation of a reservoir and the set up of three industrial pumping machines to discharge extra water into the lagoon.

He argued that counting on a number of smaller pumping machines wouldn’t present a sustainable answer, significantly the place present drainage channels had grow to be blocked.

“The solely factor that may clear up the issue is to have a system that may take all of the water and pump it out to the lagoon, whereas stopping the lagoon from bringing water again inside.

“There should be about three industrial pumps at that end, instead of having different small pumps. If you don’t rebuild the canal and create a reservoir, you will continue to have a problem because all the drainage is blocked,” he stated.

Ukaoha disclosed {that a} technical design for the proposed intervention had been developed in collaboration with the Federal Government and submitted to the property administration and affiliation for consideration.

He expressed optimism that implementing the proposal would considerably scale back the flooding problem going through residents and property house owners within the property.

“We have done a design with the Federal Government and submitted it to the estate management and the association. Once they resolve their concerns and implement it, the water problem in Osborne will be substantially addressed,” he stated.

On allegations that he constructed buildings beneath high-tension electrical energy traces, launched into improvement with out the required permits and used his relationship with the Federal Government to accumulate land improperly, the developer described the claims as unfounded.

He defined that his firm’s involvement within the space was based mostly on a three way partnership association with the Federal Government underneath a Public-Private Partnership framework, utilizing the Build, Operate and Transfer mannequin.

“They accused me of constructing with out having a allow and likewise constructing on excessive rigidity. Those are the allegations in opposition to me. They additionally accused me of utilizing the Federal Government to seize land. I don’t perceive what they imply by land grabbing.

“I am doing a joint venture with the Federal Government, a PPP, build, operate and transfer. That is actually the major issue,” he stated.

The developer additionally attributed a part of the controversy surrounding his property to a chronic disagreement with one other particular person over entry to a gate positioned near a transformer he put in.

He stated the disagreement had lasted about three years and had beforehand been reported on the Dauphin Police Station.

According to him, the Lagos State Government had directed the events to droop actions on the disputed location pending the decision of the matter with the Controller of the Federal Ministry of Housing.

He alleged, nonetheless, that the opposite get together subsequently introduced transport containers to the placement at night time and commenced work regardless of the directive.

“The state requested us to not do something there till they resolved the problem with the Controller of the Federal Ministry of Housing, which I did. I complied with the directive.

“The state requested us to not do something there till they resolved the problem with the Controller of the Federal Ministry of Housing, which I did. I complied with the directive.

“But they went there at night, brought in shipping containers and started working. Even as of now, the place is still a problem,” he alleged.

Ukaoha additionally denied intentionally stopping the Lagos state deputy governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, from accessing the property throughout his October 31 go to to the property.

He defined that he was in London on the time to go to his kids and solely returned to Lagos two days earlier than talking with journalists.

“I just came into Lagos two days ago. I had been in London to see my children. I wasn’t even here when they started the thing. I can show you my tickets,” he stated.

He additional defined that he had directed building websites to shut following a round from the property administration, insisting that he was not conscious of any instruction requiring building websites to stay open for the Deputy Governor’s inspection.

The developer expressed respect for Hamzat, commending his intervention within the controversy and his rationalization of the components chargeable for flooding within the property.

“I respect him a lot, and I thank him for putting things straight because he told them that it wasn’t any individual that caused the flooding. He explained to them what caused the flooding,” he stated.

Ukaoha additionally highlighted what he described as his firm’s contributions to the event of Osborne Estate over time, together with street building and drainage interventions.

He recalled that his firm was concerned in work on the property’s entrance street in 2006, including that he had maintained investments within the space for practically twenty years.

He stated the advance of infrastructure within the property would profit all property house owners by enhancing the worth of their investments.

“I’ve been right here for nearly 20 years. I’ve investments right here. The extra the property and its infrastructure enhance, the extra the worth of the property will increase.

“I am not making any demand from anybody. I believe that anywhere you develop is your community. You add more value. I am not the only developer here. If five people came out to do what I have done for the community, I think it would be a better place,” he stated.

He known as for cooperation among the many Lagos state authorities, property administration, residents and property builders to handle the flooding problem, moderately than permitting disagreements over duty to undermine efforts in the direction of a long-lasting answer.

“My only concern is that we should find a way to improve the estate instead of looking for a scapegoat to blame somebody who did nothing,” he stated.