Owners of illegal structures and makeshift buildings along Adewale Kolawole Street, Lekki Coastal Road, as well as squatters in the environs, have been told to vacate the shanties within 5days.
Chairman, Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, Task Force, Shola Jejeloye, served the notice, on Friday, April 21, 2023, advising owners of the illegal structures, makeshift buildings and shanties to immediately remove them as well as vacate the area within the stipulated.
CSP Jejeloye, while appealing to traders, food vendors and other squatters living unhygienically in clusters, noted that government would enforce the 5-day removal notice on 25th April 2023.
He noted that the notice became necessary in view of the rising incidences of pollution and most importantly a fire outbreak which occurred there three days ago which almost led to the destruction of buildings on the other side of the street.
He stressed that the state government is worried by the squalid environment, which could also serve as hideouts for criminals, who pose a security threat to residents in the area and Lagosians at large.
Jejeloye added that the state government is committed to reducing crime to the barest minimum by clearing out criminal hideouts and also ensuring the environment is safe, serene and habitable for all concerned. He stated that shanties, illegal structures are known for indiscriminate disposal of waste materials which is not in tandem with the state’s vision for a mega city status.
He warned owners of abandoned trucks and vehicles, shanties and kiosks to remove them from the area before the expiration of the deadline, adding that this wasn’t the first removal notice served on the occupiers.
“The Lagos State’s zero tolerance for environmental abuse, illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse and defacing the environment is going to be followed to the hilt and we will make sure our objective here is achieved” Jejeloye stated.
“I can assure you that government will enforce this notice come next week Tuesday”, CSP Jejeloye was quoted as saying by Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Task Force.