Lagos, Nigeria – In a bid to ensure the safety and security of its citizens, the Lagos State Government has taken decisive action to dislodge illegal squatters and destroy shanties under the Ijora Causeway Bridge. This move comes after a five-day quit notice was issued to the squatters, warning them to remove their structures or face demolition and removal.
The Ijora Causeway Bridge has been a hotspot for illegal occupation, with mini buses, block moulders, fuel sellers, and miscreants setting up shanties underneath the bridge. This occupation posed a significant security risk to the safe operation of the Lagos Blue Line corridor, prompting the government to take action.
Under the directive of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the enforcement team, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bayo Sulaiman, was tasked with dislodging the squatters and clearing the area. Videos shared by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, showcased the enforcement team in action.
The enforcement operation was carried out in conjunction with the Special Intervention Squad on the Restoration of the Lagos Badagry Rail Corridor Clean-Up. This joint effort aimed to restore order and ensure the safety of the rail corridor.
In addition to the dislodging of squatters under the Ijora Causeway Bridge, the Lagos State Government has also been cracking down on environmental offenders. On Friday, a sewage evacuation truck was impounded, and the driver was arrested for discharging faeces into the drainage system, thereby polluting the environment in Amuwo Odofin Housing Estate, Mile 2. The driver has been arraigned and remanded by the magistrate for sentencing.
The dislodging of illegal squatters and the destruction of shanties under the Ijora Causeway Bridge is a crucial step towards maintaining law and order in Lagos. By removing these illegal structures, the government aims to ensure the safety of the Lagos Blue Line corridor and prevent any potential security threats that may arise from the occupation of these areas.