By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
All structures constituting shanties along the Lekki Coastal Road and under high tension of cables have been demolished by operatives of the Lagos State Taskforce.
This is in line with the mandate of the agency to
maintain and sustain a serene and habitable environment, free from security incidents and occurrences.
The demolition exercise, which took on Monday, also extended to the environs of the coastal road, which are areas mapped out by the State Government to saerve as an alternate route to motorists along that axis when completed.
Led by the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jjeloye, the exercise took place after an eviction noticed was served to the illegal occupants who had constructed makeshift buildings, some of which were constructed right under high tension cables running through the area.
Jejeloye pointed out that the shanties not only constitute health and safety risks to residents in the area but also serves as a haven for criminals who make use of such locations as a hideout.
“This is the third major enforcement we are carrying out in this very location as we were two years ago and even last year. Some of the kiosks are built under the high tension cable which is very dangerous”
According to a release by Gbadeyan Abdulraheem Director, Press & Public Affairsof the Agency, the chairman also disclosed that the shanties which were built with wood caught fire some weeks ago and led to the partial burning of a building across the fence where the shanties are located.
“It would have been a more serious incident if not the quick intervention of the Lagos State Fire Service who put out the fire which started off from the shanties. Gross disregard for safety precautions would always give room unsafe conditions, that is why we have come to put an end to it today”.
The Chairman assured Lagosians and residents of Lekki Coastal axis to be rest assured that the shanties will never be allowed to be spring back up again, promising that he would station men from the Agency to monitor the axis forthwith.
CSP Jejeloye further appealed to residents and CDAs of the area to collaborate with each other and come up with sustainable plans like employing private security men to monitor the axis in order to prevent any unscrupulous individuals erecting such makeshift structures.
He promised that the Agency will not rest on its oars till criminality is stamped out and the Environment is free from activities that could lead to the loss of lives and property.
