“Is There an Alternative”: Nigerians React As Lagos Govt Announces Demolition of Over 100 Shanties
- Adeniji Adele under bridge has been identified as a hotspot for illegal settlements, posing sanitation and security challenges in Lagos state
- As part of its efforts to fight crime and deal with criminal elements in the state, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s government has sent a notice to occupants of the shanties
- Nigerians have reacted differently as the commissioner for Environment disclosed that the enforcement begins on Monday, May 6, 2024
TheTalk.NG journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements
The Lagos state government, led by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, disclosed it would remove over 100 shanties at Adeniji Adele under the bridge beginning from Monday, May 6, 2024.
Lagos governor Sanwo-Olu moves to demolish shanties at Adeniji Adele under bridge to combat crime.
Photo credit: Babajide Sanwo-OluSource: Facebook
Lagos govt to clear 100 shanties, asks occupants to vacate
As reported by The Punch, the state commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, made this known in a post shared on his X page on Sunday, May 5.
According to him, the removal is coming after the expiration of a 48-hour notice served on all occupants of the shanties to move with their belongings.
The commissioner therefore advised all the occupants of the shanties “in their interest, to voluntarily move out with their belongings before the commencement of the enforcement operations on Monday.”
Reason for the demolition of the shanties emerges
This exercise, according to him, is part of the commitment of the state government to reclaim all ungoverned spaces that dot the Lagos landscape, Daily Trust reported.
This exercise, according to him, is part of the commitment of the state government to reclaim all ungoverned spaces that dot the Lagos landscape.
“Apart from the unsanitary conditions of residents in the shanties, it also serves as a hiding place for criminals and points for peddling hard drugs and substances which is injurious to the wellbeing of law-abiding residents,” Wahab added.
Nigerians react as LASG is set remove over 100 shanties
The move by the Lagos state government, has generated mixed reaction on X. TheTalk.NG captured some of them below.
@Pweshiouz13 tweeted:
“Operation clean Lagos.”
@crownstarkp tweeted:
“Rich don’t know tribe.”
@obirule25 tweeted:
“I hope the government Jide Sanwo-Olu will make provision for an alternative decent accommodation for the affected? This is how it’s done in Europe.”
Lagos to relocate displaced squatters back to their home state
Meanwhile, TheTalk.NG previously reported that the Lagos state government had disclosed its plans to relocate more than half of the busted squatters to their home states.
The government noted that allowing their stay in the state without any trajectory or survival means would pose a major security risk to the community.
The authority apprehended 450 squatters, of whom 371 pleaded to be helped with transportation back to their states of birth.
Source: TheTalk.NG
