The Lagos State Taskforce has carried out a follow-up eviction operation and also served a five-day eviction notice to squatters and suspected miscreants around Lekki Coastal Road and Marwa Gardens.
The operation which was led by the chairman of the agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye in the early hours of Tuesday lasted about 5 hours. Jejeloye disclosed that the Lagos State Taskforce had visited the axis times without a number but the squatters remained defiant and kept returning after the dust settles.
“We have said it times without number that the clearing of the axis will be a continuous one until the State Government commences construction of the alternative roads. The exercise is also necessary to frustrate criminal activities in the area.”
CSP Jejeloye appealed to owners of structures erected illegally along that axis to remove them before the five-day grace given to them by the State Government.
“There are car repair outlets, brothels, viewing centers, and kiosks, all erected illegally and haphazardly along the dedicated routes for the construction of the road and we have served them all the five-day notice to vacate the area or risk having their property brought down by the bulldozer.”
The five-day notice is a follow-up to a series of notices and warnings that have been served before now to these squatters.
In a similar development, the Lagos State Taskforce also served removal/eviction notices to kiosk owners and makeshift shops erected along the Fagba Railway crossing due to the dangers their structure poses for passengers and themselves.
The chairman of the Taskforce who led the operation disclosed that the activities of the petty traders posed a huge safety and security risk around there and also was necessary to ease traffic caused by them.
“These structures erected here have no form of approval whatsoever from the state government, therefore, it’s our responsibility to ensure that they are removed and Lagosians are allowed to move freely without any obstruction”
Jejeloye warned occupants in the area that strict enforcement exercise begins right after the five-day eviction notice elapses. He appealed to anyone nursing the idea of selling wares by the rail track to shelve such ideas as the state government is out to restore sanity around the rail track and its environs.
