Lagos removes 54 illegal shanties, dislodges 84 occupants

The Lagos State Government has begun the removal of shanties and dislodging of illegal squatters across some bridges in the state.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the latest exercise occurred on Monday under the Elegbata bridge by Apongbon.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the operation on his X.com handle on Monday.

“Operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps @LAGESCOfficial dislodged illegal squatters under Elegbata bridge by Apongbon”, he disclosed.
Similarly, the head of Public Affairs and Advocacy Unit, LAGESC, Ajayi Lukman, in a statement on Monday, revealed that the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps removed 54 illegal shanties and eight makeshift toilets under the Eko Bridge, displacing 84 occupants.

According to him, the initiative aims to join the ongoing effort to significantly reduce environmental nuisances in the metropolis, minimise pollution and improve the overall environmental quality.

“In consolidation of existing efforts aimed at reducing the spate of environmental nuisances to the barest minimum in the metropolis, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps popularly known as KAI effected the removal of 54 illegal shanties which harboured 84 illegal occupants and eight makeshift toilets beneath Eko Bridge at the Ebute-Ero area of the state on Monday,” he stated.
Lukman disclosed that the Corps Marshal, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (retd.), led the dislodgement operation, targeting illegal occupants of the Elegbeta Water Channel under the Eko Bridge, as the area had become a site for dumping refuse and criminal activities after a seven-day abatement notice was ignored.

He said, “The disclosure was made by the Corps Marshal of the agency, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (retd.), who led the dislodgement operation.

According to the Corps Marshal, the Elegbeta Water Channel which spans the Lagos Lagoon right under the Eko Bridge around the Ebute-Ero axis turned home to miscreants, illegal occupants occupying the waterfront, usually in the habit of promoting indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the lagoon, activating the base of the bridge as a criminal hideout and enjoining open defecation, urination and we swung into action after serving a seven-day abatement notice which was not adhered to.’’

He appreciated the leadership of the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, stressing that the mandate of the agency to maintain a cleaner and greener environment as enshrined in the THEMES+ agenda of Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu remained paramount and sacrosanct to the collective cleanliness of the State’s environs.

He further warned environmental offenders against illegal dumping, unauthorised structures, and not obtaining waste collection contracts stating that the law would take firm action against those who violate the state’s environmental regulations.

“The Corps Marshal also sounded a strong warning to environmental defaulters usually in the habit of indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains and water bodies, erection of illegal structures on road setbacks, lay-bys, curbs, medians, verges and the refusal of public and private premises to obtain a valid waste collection contract, which he highlighted as infractions and maintained that the law will take its due course and deal decisively with flouters who show clear disregard for the State’s environmental laws,” he said.