Lagos govt to demolish shanties, markets at Cele

The Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has announced plans to demolish shanties and illegal market structures around the Cele underbridge area of the state.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, made this known while speaking with journalists after an inspection tour of drainage enforcement at Cele underbridge on the Lagos Apapa Oshodi Expressway.

Wahab expressed displeasure at the illegal and criminal activities taking place in the area, describing the markets and shanties as a menace to society.

He noted that the ministry had received complaints of illegal activities on the pedestrian bridge and under the bridge, including criminal activities and environmental hazards.

The commissioner stated that the human activities around the environs had contributed to the continuous blockage of the drainage system, and that the ministry had served notices to the traders and residents in the area.

“Sometime last year, we had several complaints of illegal activities going on on the pedestrian bridge and under the bridge.

“Criminal activities were going on. So, we had to deploy our enforcement team to come and do a scope and the feedback was heart-wrenching for the ministry.

“The illegal activities were not just about marketing and trading. They had also gone ahead to construct lots of shanties under the bridge.

“It goes beyond environmental and safety issues now, and then their waste were now being dropped into the major canal System 6C around this place,” he said.

He added that the local government was responsible for building a proper market for the traders, and expressed hope that they would perform their duty.

The demolition is expected to take place soon, with the commissioner stating that the traders would be given a few hours to vacate the premises before the demolition begins.

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