The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has demolished shanties and other illegal structures used by street traders and traffic vendors, along the first and second toll gates of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, in a comprehensive enforcement exercise, which lasted for hours.
Of late, the corridor has become notorious, for sustained traffic congestion and other environmental nuisance, largely aided by the illegal activities of those vendors.
LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni condemned the traders’ activities, warning that anyone caught trying to re-assemble the structures would be instantly arrested and prosecuted.
He said: “We have declared zero tolerance on street trading along the Lekki-Epe Expressway as these activities have led to significant environmental nuisances and traffic congestion. It is our duty to ensure that our city remains clean and habitable for all residents and visitors. Hence, we urge all traders to vacate the expressway immediately and avoid any further environmental infractions”.
He appealed to residents to take a new approach in how they treat the environment, stressing the importance of environmental responsibility, as he cautioned that stringent penalties awaited those who continued to disregard the regulations in place.
Odumboni said that the crackdown on street trading would be sustained in that axis and extended to others in the metropolis, in line with LAWMA’s broader mission to improve the overall cleanliness and livability of the state, adding that arrested offenders would be prosecuted, and their names and photographs published.
