The Lagos State Government has handed a seven-day ultimatum to house owners at Park View, Banana Island, Shoreline Estate, Onikoyi Estate, to remove their fences encroaching on drainage channels.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, during an inspection of the area at the weekend, said many buildings in the area failed to leave the standard 3-metre distance to the drainage channel.

Wahab, however, said instead of three metres, the government demanded only 2.5-metre space.

He warned that any building that fell short of the guidelines would be removed.

The commissioner urged owners of the affected buildings to voluntarily remove such encroaching fences before the expiration of the ultimatum.

He warned that failure to do so and should the government use taxpayers’ funds to enforce, property owners would be surcharged for the expenses incurred.