The Lagos State Government issued a four-day relocation notice to squatters on the coastal road in Lekki on Sunday, warning of enforcement if not vacated.
Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, gave the ultimatum, saying that inspections and regeneration efforts are underway with a view to targeting illegal settlements and securing affected areas.
Wahab said following the indiscriminate springing up of shanties and illegal structures, the Lagos State Government had no choice but to issue the four-day relocation notice to all squatters around the Lagos coastal road in the Mayegun area of Lekki.
Speaking with newsmen after an inspection tour to Jakande, Elegushi itedo, System 156 and 44 on Orchid Road, Wahab said all such illegal shanties and squatters, close to Regional Road Alignment must vacate the area by Thursday afternoon.
He warned that if they failed to move, enforcement operatives would arrive in the early hours of Friday morning, as all the properties have been served mandatory notices.
According to Wahab, the tour is to ensure that the coastal alignment of the affected areas is secured and illegal settlements along the corridors removed.
The commissioner added that by next week, the spots will be cleared with the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABCA) involved in the proper regeneration of the axis.
“The government has cleared Ijora and Obalende underbridge, Obalende, Apongbon underbridge, and Agege Red rail line amongst others,” Wahab said.
“I would like to say that most of the cleaned places were notorious for harbouring criminals and were threats to residents.”
He said the team would also visit Aboru, Command, Abule-Egba to inspect ongoing work in the areas, stressing that the enforcement drive is a state-wide exercise.
The Commissioner said enforcement would commence this week on System 157 (Orchid Road) to open the 40 metres drainage.
He said this is necessary as people have built on the canal path and narrowed the primary channel thereby causing flooding in the area.
