
The Lagos State Government has initiated the removal of shanties along the Blue Rail line, stretching from Orile to Iyana Iba, as part of its efforts to enforce urban development and restore the right-of-way.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, oversaw the removal of some of these shanties on Sunday, following the expiration of a one-month notice issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to all street traders, squatters, and occupants of shanties and abandoned vehicles along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, from Orile to Iyana-Iba.
Wahab emphasized that the Lagos-Badagry Expressway’s right-of-way measures between 90 to 120 meters, and any structure within this zone would not be permitted to remain. He also cautioned commercial vehicle operators on the corridor to adhere to their designated parking areas, warning that vehicles picking up or dropping passengers at undesignated bus stops would be towed and their owners prosecuted.
The Commissioner affirmed the governor’s commitment to restoring the greenery and enhancing the beauty of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and other parts of the state that have been encroached upon by illegal traders. He mentioned Agege, Lagos Island, Ikeja, and other areas as targets for revitalization.
Wahab disclosed the establishment of a Special Intervention Team responsible for cleaning up the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, eliminating environmental nuisances and black spots. He assured that these efforts would be sustained to prevent squatters from returning to rebuild their shanties.
Street traders in various parts of the state were warned that no encroached area would be exempt from cleanup operations. Wahab specifically urged traders at Afolabi Ege Market, Iyana Iba, to relocate within seven days, as they have contributed to traffic congestion along the axis.
Residents were also cautioned against establishing illegal dumpsites, with particular attention to one identified at the Eric Moore end of Surulere. The government pledged to find a lasting solution to such sites and directed the State Waste Management Authority to evacuate the identified black spot within 24 hours.