The Lagos State Government on Thursday, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to traders selling under the Apongbon Bridge and along drainage setbacks in Lagos Island to vacate the areas.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, gave this directive during an inspection of the Savage/Elegbata/Bombata Drainage Channel on Thursday.
In a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina, Wahab highlighted the impact of human activities in the area, including flooding and threats to lives and property.
“I have instructed that the shop/stall owners be served abatement notice. We are going to clear these infractions and keep the maintenance work going while ensuring that the contract is revisited to accommodate these two collectors,” he said.
The commissioner noted the illegal conversion of spaces under the Apongbon Bridge into livestock markets and ordered the immediate relocation of traders to designated areas.
He said, “What we saw is not something that we are happy about. People have fully built on setbacks, and drainage channels and when you build structures on these infrastructures, how do you expect these infrastructures to be maintained?
“We have abused these infrastructures, and I have given directives to the appropriate department to serve notice of abatement, and if compliance is not carried out, enforcement will commence.”
Wahab warned that the state would enforce environmental laws if compliance is not achieved.
