Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s led government of Lagos State has dislodged all illegal occupants of the Iganmu underbridge.
Naija News reports that the State Taskforce on the Environmental and Special Offences Unit on Thursday, May 13 raided the bridge and vacated the squatters.
The Chairman of the task force, CSP Shola Jejeloye, said in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday by the unit’s Public Affairs Officer, Femi Moliki, that the state government would put the space to better use.
Naija News understands that a notice of eviction had been issued to the occupants of the bridge since Monday with a three-day ultimatum. Governor Sanwo-Olu and Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, have as well visited the area to appeal to the occupants to vacate the place.
An agreement was reportedly reached that the place should be put to good use as part of efforts to finding a lasting solution to the traffic jam in the Apapa area.
“Occupants of the Iganmu underbridge were informed to leave the area six months ago before they were eventually served a 72 -hour removal notice on Monday. Government agencies, including the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Lagos Waste Management Agency, LASPARK and security agencies have been mandated to take possession of the area for cleaning up and management of the area,” said Jejeloye.
The task force boss added that the move by the government would quell criminal activities in the area.
“Clearing of the place and dislodgement of squatters will bring to an end the incessant traffic robberies, indiscriminate parking of trucks, environmental nuisance and selling of hard drugs in the area. The State Government will sustain this place. All those illegal activities; and this area serving as hideouts for criminals will no longer be allowed.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has thrown harsh words at Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over the collapse of Ozuma Bridge, in Okengwe, Okene Local Government Area of the state.
The PDP in a statement on Tuesday signed by its Director Media and Communication, Dayo Onibiyo lamented that the fact that the bridge is in the Governor’s hometown makes it more worrisome, Naija News reports.
The statement alleged that the bridge which was constructed with several millions of taxpayers’ money was built using sub-standard products and that is why it collapsed.
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