Lagos government removes under-bridge shanties
Tokunboh Wahab, commissioner for environment in Lagos state, has informed of the government’s decision to remove informal settlements from under the Adeniji Adele on the Lagos Island, beginning from Monday.
In a comment posted on his X account, Wahab said that the decision to remove the “over 100 shanties” is coming after the expiration of the 48 hours ultimatum issued to the occupants “to move their belongings.”
Operatives of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI/LAGESC) and officials from the Monitoring Enforcement and Compliance (MEC) department of the ministry of environment would give security backup for the operation.
The commissioner stated that the exercise was part of state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to reclaim all ungoverned spaces that dot the Lagos landscape. He explained that “unsightly shanties” have “distorted” the state’s aspiration of becoming a smart city. Apart from this, Wahab said the informal settlements have become criminal hideouts and “points for peddling hard drugs.
He urged the occupants to leave the spaces voluntarily before the clearance operation on Monday.
– Folarin Ademosu
