The Lagos State Government has given a four-day ultimatum to illegal occupants to vacate Obalende Bridge, Apongbon Bridge, Ijora Bridge, National Stadium, and illegal motor parks.
In a joint statement issued by the state Commissioner for Transportation, Seun Osiyemi; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi, it warned that all shanties, dwellers, traders, squatters, and abandoned vehicles presently under the Obalende Bridge must vacate the area by Thursday afternoon as enforcement would commence in the early hours of Friday.
The statement warned that all commercial vehicle operators who are on the main roads in Obalende must relocate to the various parks provided for them because the government has had enough of the defacement of the aesthetics of Obalende by the operators, and it must now be restored.
“We also inspected the ongoing clean up of Apongbon Under-Bridge, Ebute Ero, and other areas to monitor the level of compliance with Mr. Governor’s directive that there should be no form of trading or habitation under the bridge and all adjoining areas across Lagos State,” the statement reads.
While the ultimatum may initially face resistance from affected occupants, it is imperative to recognize the broader benefits of these actions. By reclaiming public spaces and restoring order to highways and bridges, the government is laying the groundwork for a more efficient, sustainable, and livable city. Moreover, the eviction of illegal occupants presents an opportunity to address underlying social and economic challenges, such as homelessness and poverty, by providing support and assistance to those in need.
As the four-day ultimatum draws to a close, it is essential for both the government and affected occupants to approach the situation with empathy, understanding, and cooperation. While the eviction may present challenges and disruptions in the short term, it ultimately serves the collective interest of building a safer, cleaner, and more prosperous Lagos for generations to come.
The government officials added that the state government is set to sustain a clean and safe environment, and in a couple of months, the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK, will move in after the deadline to commence work on the beautification and landscaping of Obalende under bridge, Apongbon underbridge, and Ebute Ero underbridge, while the clean up exercise spreads across the state.
Earlier at Ilubirin, a strategic project of the Lagos State Government was meant to regenerate Isale Eko, and to do that, there is a need to get the outflow of water through the Ilubirin path.
It also directed that the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps should begin to arrest and immediately prosecute anyone crossing the highways across the state.
“Crossing the highways is prohibited by the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Protection Law 2017,” it said.
