Lagos State Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development yesterday commenced the demolition of shanties and illegal structures on the state’s waterfront.
The state government said it intensified its enforcement efforts at the Okunde Bluewater Scheme along the Lekki Coastal Road with a follow-up operation aimed at dislodging illegal occupants and dismantling newly emerging shanties in the area.
The state’s commissioner for Waterfront, Hon Ekundayo Alebiosu, who led the demolition operation noted that the exercise is a continuation of previous clean-up efforts and serves as a firm deterrent to those attempting to reoccupy government-owned land with unauthorized structures.
Alebiosu said, “We cleared this large expanse of land late last year and it is no longer business as usual. Any attempts to rebuild shanties or makeshift structures on this site will be met with swift enforcement.
These structures pose not only an environmental hazard but also a significant security risk. More importantly, they are not in line with the Lagos State Mega City Master Plan.”
He reiterated the Lagos State government’s commitment to the full reclamation and strategic utilisation of the area for the development of a world-class Bluewater Scheme and a coastal road network that will serve the needs of Lagosians.
He emphasised that sustained monitoring and periodic enforcement exercises would be employed to preserve the integrity of the cleared site.
The commissioner stressed that the progress recorded during the ministry’s reclamation exercise in September last year would not be allowed waste.
He reaffirmed the state government’s resolve to prevent any form of illegal resettlement on the land.
“MWID remains steadfast in its mission to secure and transform all government-owned waterfronts across Lagos State, in alignment with the vision of a clean, secure, and globally competitive mega city,” he said.
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