The Lagos State Government on Sunday stated that it would undertake enforcement action to remove over 100 shanties housing several people at Adeniji-Adele Underbridge from Monday.
In an interview with newsmen, by the state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Barrister Tokunbo Wahab said that the removal is coming after the expiration of a 48-hour removal notice served on all occupants of the shanties to move with their belongings.
He said that operatives of the Kick Against Indiscipline/Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI/LAGESC) and officials from the Monitoring Enforcement and Compliance department of the Ministry would be given security backup to conduct the operation.
Wahab emphasised that the exercise is part of the avowed commitment of the present administration under Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to reclaim all ungoverned spaces that dot the Lagos landscape.
He stressed that unsightly shanties which are located in the heart of Lagos represent a distorted image of what a smart city like Lagos should be.
Wahab said that, apart from the unsanitary conditions of residents in the shanties, they also serve as hiding places for criminals and points for peddling hard drugs and substances which is injurious to the well-being of law-abiding residents.
He advised all the occupants of the shanties in their interest to voluntarily move out with their belongings before the commencement of the enforcement operations on Monday.
Similar enforcement operations to reclaim uncovered spaces have already taken place at Ijora, Apongbon, Obalende, Dolphin.
