Lekki-Epe Coastal Road Encroachment and LASG Inability to Tackle Challenge

Sunday Ehigiator in this report writes on the continuous encroachment of the Lekki-Epe coastal road and surrounding areas around the Okunde Bluewater Hospitality and Tourism Scheme by ‘Area boys’ and the seemingly inability of the Lagos State Government to tackle this menace, despite issuing three-day quit notice in July 2021

Concerns have continued to grow among Nigerians over the continuous encroachment and habitation of the Lekki-Epe coastal road by ‘Area boys’ despite the three-day ultimatum issued by the Lagos State Government (LASG) for them to leave the area.

It would be recalled that the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Task Force) issued a three-day removal notice to all owners of makeshift structures, shanties, kiosks and vehicles at Maroko and on Lekki-Epe Coastal Road, Lekki in July 2021.

Justifiably so, the rising concerns are not only fueled by the increased crime rate within the vicinity and threat to properties, personal life and safety, but likewise the visible failure of the Lagos state government to take necessary actions in securing the coastal road after the expiration of the quit notice.
The encroachment of the coastal road seems to be a menace that the Sanwo-Olu government seems unable to tackle. Despite repeated threats by Lagos State officials to evict the squatters who have turned the area into a den for drug traffic, prostitution and other vices, they seems to be blossoming beyond belief.

With the laudable efforts of the President Mohammadu Buhari led administration in making Nigeria a drug free society, having such compartment synonymous among those very familiar with the area as a ‘Drug Cartel’, existing in a highly populated city like Lagos state, only makes mockery of the laudable government efforts towards eradicating drugs and substance abuse among Nigerian youth.

Prior to the July 2021 notice, the Taskforce Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye, who led his team to issue the removal notices, said the order became necessary for the construction of the Lekki Coastal Road, which serves as an alternative route to the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The spokesman for the Taskforce, Mr. Femi Moliki, has said in a widely reported statement that the road, which leads to Lekki Free Zone, “was dotted by illegal structures, shanties, abandoned vehicles, containers and trading activities, and that all illegal structures would be demolished within three days.”

The order, according to CSP Jejeloye was for all the mechanics, block makers, bamboo and wood sellers, shanties and other illegal occupiers, to move or be removed within a few days.

This followed an earlier instruction by Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu in 2020 that the setbacks would be cleared and maintained, pending when the state government would be able to commence work on the Coastal Highway.
The Coastal Highway is a vital artery that was designed to provide relief to the over-used Lekki-Epe Expressway.
It is pertinent to note also that successive government since the days of Colonel Raji Rasaki have promised and likewise failed to kick off construction of this vital road.

In August 2021, the government demolished shanties and illegal structures on Lekki coastal road.
In a statement issued by Moliki, he said the task force was prepared to monitor and prevent future encroachments and illegal occupation of any part of Lekki coastal road.

“We have enlightened the occupants on the strategic nature of the road where they had built their shanties. Immediately it was cleared in 2019, they mobilised themselves and extended their occupation of the road.
“They have turned it into hideouts for criminals. They sell drugs, some of which were seized during our assessment of the area, while traffic robbers and other dangerous criminals also dwell here.
“These cannot be allowed to thrive in Lekki. The essence of the demolition is to monitor the place and safeguard it so that criminals don’t return there again,” he said.

However, the illegal occupants remained unmovable while the government had continued to turn a blind eye towards the direction.
Upon a visit to the area, there was a visible upsurge of ‘area boys’ besieging visitors to the private beaches at Landmark and Lekki Leisure Centre. This has not only discouraged tourism patronage among some Lagosians, but sends a signal of fear to visitors who dare to still patronise the beaches.
An operator of one of the many entertainment centres in the Hospitality and Tourist Zone declined to comment on record, for fear of reprisals from area boys.
He, however, lamented the losses faced by his business as a result of these unwholesome activities.

The operator, among several others alike, had invested millions of dollars in the hospitality and tourism space, with the hope that the area would turn into the entertainment Mecca that Lagos State officials had promised them. However, they have been made to tarry longer than necessary.
Residents of Bluewater Apartments, an upmarket 18-storey apartment block built by El Alan Construction, a leading construction company, were said to be equally afraid of the area boys who had invaded the neighbourhood.

This unwelcome development seems reflective of the inability of governments across the country to secure the lives and property of citizens.

Lagos State government in particular, seem powerless to take decisive action against these illegal squatters despite repeated threats to evict them, amid rumours that some of the squatters have tight political connections with powers that be.

Speaking on the deelopment, spokesperson to the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Task Force), Mr. Gbadeyanka Raheem, said they have sent the miscreants on the Lekki-Epe axis packing several times, but kept returning.

Raheem said, “We have dislodged the illegal occupants around that place but the truth of the matter is that they kept coming back. It is a known fact that Nigeria’s meat is hard to chew and that is the challenge we are facing in that area. When you chase them away from that place today, in the next one-week, you will discover that they are back there and you know that those shanties are easy to erect.

“Our agency is trying to ensure that the state is free from all the activities of miscreants and that is why we have been working tirelessly to achieve this.
“You can see the way we have been working to stop the influx of Okada on the Prohibited roads yet they keep coming back and yet citizens are still the ones complaining that we are being tough on them,” he said.

He added that no politician will want to identify with miscreants, so the rumour about their having political backing is not true. “No responsible politician will support hoodlums,” he added.
He, however, urged members of the community to try as much as possible to support the agency in their efforts to rid the society of crime by always reporting the activities of the miscreants and hoodlums whenever they return after dislodgment.