Lagos State Governor, Governor Sanwo-Olu on Monday 30th December 2019, released a statement speaking on the demolition exercise carried out by the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit at the Marwa waterside in Lekki area of Lagos State.
The exercise which saw the demolition of over 2,500 purported illegal structures around the popular Marwa waterside, was undertaken to create an alternative route from the ever-busy Lekki-Epe Expressway. It will enable the Government to embark on the proposed construction of a coastal road along that area, the Governor had said his statement.
According to Governor Sanwo-Olu who shared some images of the before and after the demolition exercise of the area on his social media handle on Monday 30th December 2019, the demolition which was carried out on Sunday 29th December 2019, was undertaken after the expiration of a notice by the Government to the inhabitants of the area asking them to remove their property and vacate the entire area. The ultimatum according to the government, elapsed on Thursday, 19th December 2019.
“This exercise became imperative as we begin preparation for the commencement of the construction of the coastal road that would serve as an alternative route for the Lekki-Epe expressway. The illegal structures erected in this corridor was an eye-sore as artisans, food vendors and others littered the entire environment with refuse and waste thereby degrading the vicinity,” he said.
“The Lagos Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit carried out a demolition exercise of over 2,500 illegal structures built in Marwa Waterside area in Lekki, yesterday subsequent to the expiration of a seven-day removal notice. The illegal business operators who built these unlawful structures in this location were given a notice by the Government to remove their property and vacate the entire area, this ultimatum elapsed on Thursday, 19th December 2019.
Whilst we will continue to maintain a zero-tolerance stance on environmental degradation, the Environmental and Special Offences task force have been instructed to go after illegal structures across the State in order to ensure a serene and safe environment for the citizens.
The aesthetic value of any city is one of the most important elements of its urban identity which distinguishes it from other cities, hence it is disturbing when citizens build illegal structures in the state without the right approvals thereby disrupting the planned urban development,” he said.