The Lagos State Government has condemned the vandalisation of critical structural components of the Festac Town–Alakija Link Bridge and vowed to prosecute 27 suspected hoodlums arrested beneath the flyover during a joint overnight enforcement operation.
The arrests followed an enforcement exercise aimed at ridding the Lagos-Badagry Transnational Highway of environmental pollution, illegal motor parks, roadside trading, market displays on highway setbacks and pedestrian walkways, in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive to restore order along the strategic corridor.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed the development on Friday via his official social media handle, revealing that the operation uncovered extensive vandalism beneath the newly constructed bridge.
According to the commissioner, investigations showed that suspected hoodlums had deliberately removed iron rods, steel reinforcements, cables and other structural materials critical to the bridge’s integrity, thereby posing a serious threat to public safety.
“Our enforcement operation uncovered a disturbing act of vandalism beneath the newly constructed bridge linking Festac Town to Alakija. Investigations revealed that suspected hoodlums had deliberately removed iron rods, steel reinforcements, cables and other supporting materials essential to the integrity of the infrastructure,” Wahab said.
He described the destruction as a direct attack on public infrastructure that undermines government investment and endangers the lives of road users and residents.
“This criminal act poses a serious threat to public safety and undermines the government’s investment in critical infrastructure,” the commissioner stated.
Wahab said the discovery prompted a coordinated midnight operation involving officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) task force, resulting in the arrest of 27 suspected hoodlums found beneath the bridge.
“Following this discovery, a joint midnight enforcement operation involving officers of the Rapid Response Squad and the Kick Against Indiscipline task force was conducted at the location. The operation led to the arrest of 27 suspected hoodlums, who will be prosecuted in accordance with the extant laws of Lagos State,” he said.
The commissioner reaffirmed the state’s determination to safeguard public infrastructure and sustain ongoing enforcement operations across the Lagos-Badagry Transnational Highway.
“The Lagos State Government remains committed to protecting public infrastructure and will continue to take decisive action against individuals or groups engaged in acts of vandalism, environmental infractions and other criminal activities that threaten the safety and wellbeing of residents,” Wahab added.
He reiterated that the enforcement campaign against environmental violations, illegal roadside trading, unauthorised motor parks and other infractions would continue as part of the government’s broader commitment to preserving public infrastructure, improving environmental sanitation and ensuring the free flow of traffic across Lagos.
