LASG orders traders under Lagos bridge to vacate in 48 hours

Lagos State has informed traders operating under the Apongbon Bridge and along drainage setbacks in Lagos Island to vacate the areas within 48 hours.

Punch reports that the announcement was made by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, on Thursday.

While inspecting the Savage/Elegbata/Bombata Drainage Channel, Wahab stressed that the government aimed to address the environmental challenges facing the state and boost infrastructure.

He insisted that the occupation of these traders under the Apongbon Bridge and their subsequent use of it for livestock trading was illegal.

“What we saw is not something that we are happy about. People have fully built on setback and drainage channels and when you build structures on these infrastructures, how do you expect these infrastructures to be maintained?

“We have abused these infrastructure and I have given directives to the appropriate department to serve notice of abatement and if compliance is not carried out enforcement will commence,” Wahab said.

The Commissioner went on to warn that non-compliance of this ultimatum will attract consequences.

Wahab revealed that two buildings under construction on Alakoro Martins Street and in Ebute Ero Market have been sealed for illegally stacking materials on drainage systems.

“The buildings were sealed because they stacked their building materials on the drainage system and this is illegal because they block the drainage system in the process. Such offenders will be required to remove the materials and clean the drainage system before they are unsealed,” he disclosed.

The officials present during the inspection were the Permanent Secretaries of the Environment Ministry, representatives from the Lagos Waste Management Authority, Lagos State Waste Management Office, and other agencies.