Lagos State Government on Sunday issued a four-day ultimatum to all squatters living in shanties and illegal structures along the Lagos coastal road in Mayegun, Lekki area.
The directive, given during an inspection by Honourable Commission for Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stressed the urgency for squatters near the Regional Road Alignment to leave by Thursday afternoon.
Wahab cautioned of imminent enforcement from Friday morning for non-compliance, stating that all properties had been served with notices.
He was accompanied by key officials, including SA Environment Kunle Rotimi-Akodu and PS Drainage Services Engr Mahmood Adegbite, who emphasized the vital need to protect coastal alignment and remove illegal settlements.
Plans for clearing and redevelopment by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABCA) were announced for the next week. The commissioner highlighted the government’s achievements in clearing notorious areas, such as Ijora, Obalende underbridge, Apongbon underbridge, and Agege Red rail line, which were previously known for criminal activities.
He said the government needed to take similar action in the affected areas to ensure resident safety.
“The government has cleared Ijora and Obalende underbridge, Obalende, Apongbon underbridge, and Agege Red rail line among others. I want to say that most of the places that were cleaned up were notorious for sheltering criminals and were threats to residents” he said.
The enforcement drive, part of a state-wide exercise, aims to create a 40-meter drainage on System 157 (Orchid Road), to address flooding caused by constructions on canal paths.
Wahab mentioned stakeholder meetings held in the last quarter of 2023, where contravention notices were issued to property owners and residents.
Despite these efforts, the lack of commitment from the affected community members led to the relocation order.
The team also visited Ilubirin to evaluate the progress of a three-year-old project involving the installation of an underground tank to address flooding on Lagos Island.
Wahab confirmed the contractor’s assurance that the project would be completed in 90 days. Ilubirin’s strategic importance lies in the government’s plan to regenerate Isale Eko and surrounding areas, emphasizing the need for effective water outflow through the Ilubirin path.
