The Lagos State Government (LASG) has cleared over 200 illegal shanties and dislodged several squatters operating under and around the Ijora, Apapa Road, and Costain bridges, as part of an ongoing enforcement exercise to restore environmental order and enhance public safety.
The coordinated operation, led by officials of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Task Force), also resulted in the discovery of a dummy gun, suspected to have been used by miscreants to intimidate unsuspecting residents and passersby in the area.
Authorities said the enforcement was necessitated by the alarming increase in criminal activities, environmental degradation, and indiscriminate construction of makeshift structures along the strategic transportation corridor.
According to officials, the cleared area had long served as a hideout for hoodlums and a hub for illegal trading and waste dumping, posing serious security and health risks to commuters and nearby communities.
The Chairman of the Task Force, CSP Shola Jejeloye, reiterated the government’s determination to sustain the clean-up campaign across the state, stressing that such illegal settlements would no longer be tolerated.
“This exercise is part of our continuous efforts to reclaim public spaces, ensure safety, and maintain the integrity of critical infrastructure across Lagos,” Jejeloye stated.
He further warned that the state would prosecute anyone caught rebuilding shanties or returning to the cleared sites, emphasizing that Lagos must not become a haven for lawlessness.
Residents and business owners in the area commended the government’s action, expressing optimism that the cleanup would improve traffic flow and curb incidents of robbery and vandalism that had plagued the corridor for months.
The operation, which was hitch-free, is part of the state’s wider urban renewal and environmental enforcement drive aimed at promoting a safer and more sustainable Lagos.
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