Environment Commissioner Leads Removal Of Shanties On Blue Line Rail Corridor On Lagos/Badagry Expressway

The Honourable Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Hon. Barr. Tokunbo Wahab, in furtherance of the directives of Mr. Governor, on Sunday, supervised the removal of shanties on the setback and rights of way of the Lagos Blue Line Rail corridor from Orile to Iyana Iba while urging those concerned to immediately relocate.

The Commissioner, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji and his counterpart in the Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Lekan Shodeinde, General Manager of LASPARK, Toun Popoola and Chairman of the Special Intervention Team for the restoration of the Blue Line Right of Way, ACP Bayo Sulaiman at Orile, said there is a need to ensure a complete restoration of the right of way.

He added that in addition to the Blue Line Rail right of way which has been infringed, the Lagos Badagry Expressway is an international highway whose setback must be restored and observed.

The Commissioner said the enforcement becomes imperative following the expiration of the one-month notice given by Mr. Governor to all street traders, squatters and occupiers of shanties and abandoned vehicles presently on the stretch of Lagos-Badagry Expressway from Orile up to Iyana-Iba.

While informing that he is on an inspection tour to ensure that the right-of-way is secured and illegal trading sites along the corridor are pulled down, Wahab decried the illegal settlement at Agboju where squatters have built up shanties and have occupied government setbacks.

He said Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) would move in immediately after the squatters have been removed to commence work on the beautification and landscaping of the whole stretch, stressing that the right of way for the Lagos Badagry Expressway stands between 90 to 120 meters, hence any structure that falls between will not be allowed to stand.

Wahab advised some recalcitrant occupiers of sheds and settlements under the bridge before Abule Oshun who are still staying put, to relocate immediately as the enforcement team moves in.

He urged all commercial vehicle operators on the corridor to maintain their designated Parks, saying henceforth any vehicle seen picking up or dropping passengers at undesignated bus stops along the road would be towed away and the owners prosecuted.

The Commissioner emphasised that the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu intends to restore the greenery and beautify the Lagos-Badagry Expressway corridor as well as other parts of the state, including Agege, Lagos Island, Ikeja and other areas where illegal traders have encroached on the right-of-way.

He restated his warning to street traders in different parts of the state that no area encroached upon would be left out of the cleanup, urging traders at Afolabi Ege Market, Iyana Iba to relocate within seven days as they are the causes of the man-made traffic bottlenecks along the axis.

Wahab also warned residents against creating illegal dumpsites with particular reference to one noticed at the Eric Moore end of Surulere, saying that the government is determined to find a lasting solution to illegal dumpsites and gave a directive for the evacuation of the black spot within 24 hours to the State Waste Management Authority.