Lagos State government, on Sunday, issued a directive for the eviction of illegal occupants under the Ijora Causeway Bridge and the Lagos Blue Rail Line overhead bridge in Ijora.
The Commissioner for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab during an inspection tour of the area issued a five-day quit notice to be given to illegal squatters to remove all their shanties.
He stated, “The occupation of underneath the Blue Rail Line bridge by minibuses, block moulders, fuel sellers, and miscreants poses a danger to the safe operation of the Blue Rail Line service, and the government will not allow this to continue.”
Wahab indicated that the State Task Force on Special Offences would take full possession of the land under the Ijora Causeway Bridge and ensure sustained enforcement by the State Government.
Furthermore, a 24-hour quit notice was issued to individuals selling petroleum products under the Ijora Causeway Bridge. They were instructed to relocate all trucks and containers within the stipulated time frame or risk confiscation.
The ministry’s environmental team also visited Park View Estate in Ikoyi, where it was discovered that a secondary collector had been infringed upon by buildings and fencing.
Commissioner Wahab directed the Drainage Enforcement and Compliance Department to serve notices to property owners, demanding unfettered access for the state to monitor its secondary collectors and remove any obstructions.
Commissioner Wahab emphasized that monitoring and enforcement of environmental laws would be conducted rigorously on a daily basis.
He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to upholding environmental standards and ensuring the safety and well-being of Lagos residents.
The inspection delegation included key figures such as ACP Bayo Sulaiman, Chairman of the Special Squad on Restoration of the Lagos Badagry Rail Corridor, and other officials from various departments within the ministry.