LAGOS Environmental Sanitation Corps LAGESC, has demolished about 500 illegal structures in the Agbara axis of the Expressway.
This is part of efforts to achieve free flow of traffic and minimise highway robbery on the expressway.
The Corps Marshal of the Agency, CP Gbemisola Akinpelu said the exercise was through a joint operation with the Governors’ Office Special Project team and the Ogun State Ministry of Environment.
According to her, owners of the structures were identified and served with abatement notices but to no avail. She said, ‘‘the Lagos-Badagry expressway is an international route to other neighbouring countries and also the economic hub to both Lagos and Ogun States which makes it very vital to commuters and we discovered that over 500 illegal structures occupy the Agbara axis and owners were identified and served with abatement notices but to no avail.
“The Agency’s Special Squad carried out the demolition exercise in conjunction with the Governors’ Office Special Project team and the Ogun State Ministry of Environment’’
Whilst reiterating the State’s commitment on zero tolerance to illegal structures, the Corps Marshal highlighted that the State Government will not tolerate erection of illegal structures and shanties on the lay-bys, setbacks, right of ways especially under the high-tension poles on any road or expressway in the State.
She noted that the activities of these traders hinder the free flow of traffic on that axis as they encroach the highways to display their wares for sale thereby causing intentional traffic gridlock and harbour highway robbers in their structures at night.
Also reacting to the enforcement operation, the Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Environment, Hon. Farouk Adeniyi Akintunde revealed that the demolition exercise is one that is timely and pivotal to the Ease of Doing Business around the Agbara Industrial layout in Ogun State.
The Corps Marshal finally affirmed that the operation will be continuous as it will be extended to the nooks and crannies of the State in a concerted bid to ensure that Lagos State is free of environmental infractions, illegal structures and that the walkways, lay-bys and setbacks are free from all forms of obstructions.
She said the effort will bring about cleaner and habitable environment in the affected areas.
