- The commissioner said that the occupants of the now demolished shanties paid between N60,000 to N100,000 annual rent.
- The demolition exercise is part of the state government’s intensified efforts to address environmental violations and illegal encroachments in public spaces.
The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has dismantled 138 shanties built without permission in Ajao estate canal, where tenants pay between N60,000 and N100,000 annually.
Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos commissioner for environment and water resources, made the announcement on his X page on Friday.
The commissioner posted videos on X, showing the destruction of the illegal structures.
“In continuation of concerted measures to reduce the scourge of environmental infractions and illegal encampment in public spaces, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI on Thursday demolished 138 shanties around the canal bank in Ajao Estate Canal where illegal occupants pays between N60,000 to N100,000 rent,” Wahab wrote.
https://twitter.com/tokunbo_wahab/status/1857319887158313028
On Wednesday, Wahab disclosed that 94 persons were arrested in a midnight operation targeting rail track squatters in response to citizen complaints.
The commissioner added that a locally fabricated gun, wraps of suspected Indian hemp, charms, and a jackknife were seized from the suspects.
“In response to complaints from residents, commuters and concerned citizens, on the nefarious activities of illegal squatters, miscreants and suspected criminal elements along rail-track corridors, the agency undertook a midnight raid along the rail-track between Pen-Cinema under bridge up to Fagba Junction,” he wrote on X.
“The thorough operation commenced at about 0230hrs, covering over five kilometres in distance; shanties/illegal structures were removed.
“94 suspects were arrested during the midnight operation; a locally fabricated short gun and several wraps of illicit substance suspected to be indian hemp, charm and a jack knife were recovered.
“The suspects will be charged to court accordingly.”