The Lagos State Government has announced that the full enforcement of the removal of stalls and shanties under the Apongbon Bridge and the setbacks of the Savage/Elegbata/Bombata drainage channel on Lagos Island will commence on Tuesday, following the expiration of the 48-hour quit notice issued to stall owners and traders last week.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this during an inspection tour of the Savage/Elegbata/Bombata drainage channel in the Olowogbowo/Apongbon axis of Lagos Island. Speaking with journalists at Ebute Ero, Wahab stated that the government would remove all structures impeding the drainage channel in the best interest of residents.
He explained that the inspection was a follow-up to assess the level of compliance with the quit notice served on traders operating on the drainage channels and setbacks. He recalled that during a previous inspection, it was observed that critical drainage collectors, including Bombata/Olusi and the Alagbafo collector, had been converted into stalls, causing blockages.
“We came to ascertain the level of compliance with respect to the abatement notices served on Thursday, to ensure that we have fulfilled the statutory requirements according to the law. Enforcement activities will follow on Tuesday,” Wahab said.
The Commissioner clarified that enforcement would include the removal of structures obstructing public infrastructure within the drainage channels. However, buildings not constructed on drainage alignments will remain untouched.
Wahab also emphasized that stall owners and traders who plan to return to cleared setbacks would not be allowed, as the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) would immediately take over the spaces for beautification and sustainability.
The Commissioner further condemned the practice of contractors dumping building materials on drainage channels and roads, which disrupts the free flow of stormwater and damages public infrastructure. He ordered the sealing of buildings under construction in areas such as Oke-Arin, Abibu-Oki, and around the Ebute Ero Market, where building materials had been dumped on roads and drains.
According to Wahab, the state government will intensify advocacy campaigns to encourage compliance but will also enforce environmental laws against defaulters. “We will adopt a carrot-and-stick approach. While we appeal to the public to align with our reasoning, recalcitrant individuals will be dealt with to serve as examples for others,” he said.
He urged residents to act as whistleblowers by reporting infractions, stressing that the government cannot detect all violations at once but is committed to addressing them as they are reported.
“People must learn to protect the environment. The government will not stand by and watch the environment destroyed. The wheels of judgment may be slow, but they will grind to a halt eventually,” Wahab warned.
The Commissioner was accompanied on the tour by the Special Adviser on Environment, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; General Manager of LASWAMO, Engr. Femi Afolabi; and other senior officials from the Ministry.
Areas inspected during the tour included the Savage/Elegbata drainage channel, which spans Cole Street, Savage Lane, George Street, Abu Lane, Apongbon underbridge, and Olowogbowo areas, as well as the Ebute Ero, Okearin, and Alakoro Martins drains collector.