The Lagos State government, led by Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab for Environment and Water Resources, revealed the existence of an unauthorized residential area beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi, where occupants were paying an annual rent of N250,000.
The clandestine housing, comprising 86 makeshift rooms measuring 10×10 and 12×10, was disclosed in a post on X.com, accompanied by video evidence.
Wahab announced that the Ministry’s enforcement team had cleared out all illegal constructions, including a container implicated in unlawful activities, from under the bridge.
Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, an adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, corroborated the clearance operation, stating that 23 people were apprehended during the eviction executed by the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as KAI, on April 30, 2024.
Rotimi-Akodu emphasized the danger these unauthorized settlements posed to vital infrastructure and assured ongoing surveillance and legal proceedings.
The eviction underscores the government’s commitment to protecting public infrastructure and maintaining law and order in the state.
“Continuation of the removal of abode under Dolphin bridge. 11 more persons were arrested. It is important to note that wood materials were used to construct the shelters, some occupants used gas cylinders, and some had stored fuel for their generators, these are recipes for disaster,” he added.
He wrote, “Squatters dwelling under the bridge leading from inward Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi were evicted today Tuesday, 30th of April, 2024 by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps LAGESC (aka KAI).’’
“These people created their illegal settlement under the bridge, thereby exposing the critical infrastructure to impending destruction. Twenty-three persons have so far been arrested and MoE/KAI will continue to monitor the place. The law will take its course.”
