Lagos Demolishes Shanties on Lekki Coaster Roads

Segun James

Following the rising number of illegal communities springing up along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline, the Lagos State Government at the weekend destroyed all shantytowns along the Lekki Peninsula axis of the state.

The Chairman of the state Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), CSP Shola Jejeloye, who disclosed this to journalists, reiterated the preparedness of the state government to monitor and prevent future encroachment and illegal occupation of any part of Lekki coastal road, which serves as alternate route to the Lekki-Epe road.

He said the taskforce has demolished thousands of shanties on the road, and is prepared to do more in the interest of the environment.

The team, led by Jejeloye, visited the ghettos two weeks before a three-day removal notice was served to warn the occupants to vacate the road.

The state government had in December 2019 demolished all structures built on the road to pave way for its usage by motorists and other road users.

Jejeloye noted that the exercise was carried out to allow for the construction of the coastal road linking Lekki to the Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

He added that the road would also serve as an alternative route to Lekki-Epe expressway to enhance free flow of traffic on the corridor.

According to him, “We have enlightened the occupants on the strategic nature of the road they have built their shanties on. Unfortunately, immediately it was cleared in 2019, they mobilised themselves and extended their occupation of the road.

“They have turned it to hideouts for criminals. They sell drugs and some of these were seized during our assessment of the area. Traffic robbers and other dangerous criminals dwell here. These can’t be allowed to thrive in Lekki, not even Lagos.

“The essence of the demolition is to monitor the place and safeguard it so that criminals don’t return to the place again. The government has done this in Whitesand, Ijora and other places. This is a road, and nobody would use it if these criminal hideouts are not removed. No member of the public would use the road if these shanties are not removed.”

The taskforce leader added: “It is the commitment of the state government to decongest Lekki-Epe expressway, therefore, there is need to open up this road for residents and law-abiding people to use.”

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to get farm produce to the market on time and without any impediment, the state government has planned to build four access roads to farming communities in the Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry areas.

At a bidding ceremony for the Lagos State Agro-processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project, the state Project Coordinator, Ms. Oluranti Sagoe-Oviebo, disclosed that the project, which is in conjunction with the World Bank, would open up the farming communities to the market.

According to her, “It’s a value chain approach. We are looking at how farm produce can get to market. So if you produce and the people can’t go to your farm easily it will affect farmers’ premium price. It has to be a win-win situation. Most of the access roads are poultry estate which have helped to reduce egg breakages. We are looking at farm rural access roads which are different from executive roads.”

Sagoe-Oviebo said the construction of the 13.16 kilometres roads would be of great benefit to the people of Lagos.