Lagos intensifies crackdown on illegal structures along Badagry Expressway

The Lagos State Government has intensified the removal of shanties, illegal structures and other environmental nuisances along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway as part of efforts to restore environmental order.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Monday.

Wahab said the enforcement exercise, which had been ongoing for the past three weeks, targeted illegal structures and activities obstructing public spaces along the corridor.

According to him, the operation will be followed by sustained surveillance and continuous monitoring to prevent a return of environmental infractions.

“Over the past three weeks, our enforcement team has intensified the clearance of shanties, illegal structures and other environmental nuisances along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

“This exercise will be followed by sustained surveillance and continuous monitoring to ensure that environmental order is restored and maintained along the corridor,” he said.

The commissioner urged residents and traders to desist from converting public spaces into illegal markets or using them for unauthorised private activities.

He warned that anyone found encroaching on public spaces or using them for unlawful purposes would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with Lagos State laws.

“We urge members of the public to respect and preserve our environment by refraining from converting public spaces into illegal markets or for any unauthorised private use.

“Anyone found encroaching on public spaces or using them for unlawful purposes will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the extant laws of Lagos State,” Wahab said.

NAN reports that the Lagos-Badagry Expressway is a major transport corridor linking Lagos with Badagry and neighbouring communities and has remained a focus of the state’s environmental enforcement operations. (NAN)