Lagos To Charge Men For Assaulting Officials Demolishing ‘Illegal Structures’

Eko Hot Blog reports that some suspects have been arrested for attacking government officials during the removal of illegal structures in the Lekki/Ajah area of Lagos State.

The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Tuesday,

He also revealed that the Lagos government will charge the suspects to court immediately.

His tweet read, “Arrests were made of those who attacked government officials on Day 2 of enforcement operation in Jakande Estate, Lekki.

“The state government will be charging them to court immediately.”

The Lagos State Government had commenced the removal of illegal structures and shanties built around Jakande Estate and Maiyegun in the Lekki/Ajah area of the state.

According to Wahab, the enforcement is geared towards reclaiming the coastal road alignment for the Lagos – Calabar Highway project of the Federal Government, and the urban regeneration of the area.

The commissioner, who visited the scene of the enforcement alongside some state officials on Monday, disclosed that several sites had been identified in the state and needed to be recovered for proper regeneration as these sites are gradually being converted to environmental slums within the city.

He said the regeneration of the state will be done by the Lagos State Development Plan. Hence, the reason why the demolition of shanties is ongoing simultaneously in other parts of the state such as Ijora Under Bridge, Obalende Under Bridge as well as Orile area of the State.

Wahab also noted that it is expedient that residents must respect town planning laws and abide by its provisions.

“Anyone trying to alter the original urban development plan of the state will not be tolerated, people cannot be allowed to do whatever they like, Lagos must not become a jungle,” he said.

He maintained that the government remains resolute in the drive towards environmental regeneration, adding that the ongoing demolition exercises across the state will send a strong message that all government spaces will be governed and secured.

Wahab mentioned that before the commencement of the enforcement exercise, the State Government carried out an inventory of buildings possessing legal documents and these buildings have been numerically identified and will not be pulled down.

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