The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its determination to sustain the ongoing removal of illegal structures, shanties and makeshift markets on the median and setbacks of the Lagos–Apapa–Badagry Expressway, warning that anyone found reoccupying public spaces will face arrest and prosecution.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, gave the assurance in a post shared on his official social media handles on Monday, saying the enforcement exercise, which has intensified over the past three weeks, forms part of the government’s efforts to restore environmental order and ensure the free flow of traffic along the strategic corridor.
According to Wahab, officials of the ministry have stepped up the demolition of illegal structures and the removal of environmental nuisances that had encroached on public spaces along the expressway.
“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 stressed that the state government would not allow cleared locations to be reoccupied, noting that continuous monitoring would accompany the enforcement exercise to preserve the gains already achieved.
He appealed to residents, traders and other members of the public to cooperate with the government by respecting public infrastructure and refraining from converting road medians, setbacks and other public spaces into illegal markets or for unauthorised private activities.
“We urge members of the public to respect and preserve our environment by refraining from converting public spaces into illegal markets or for any unauthorized 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 warned.
The renewed enforcement drive is part of the Lagos State Government’s broader environmental sanitation and urban renewal campaign aimed at eliminating illegal developments, improving the aesthetics of the metropolis and enhancing safety on major roads across the state.
The government has repeatedly maintained that public spaces are designated for public use and that indiscriminate occupation of road corridors not only degrades the environment but also poses safety and traffic challenges for motorists and pedestrians.
