Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed people living in shanties and makeshift structures on the median of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to vacate the area within 72 hours.
The governor announced the ultimatum on Saturday after leading the state’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Surulere Local Government Area. He was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, during the exercise, which is part of the government’s campaign to promote a cleaner and healthier environment across Lagos.
Addressing journalists, Sanwo-Olu said enforcement officials would begin removing all illegal structures on the expressway median from next week. The operation will cover the stretch between Orile-Iganmu and Okokomaiko.
He stressed that the Lagos-Badagry Expressway is an important gateway into the state and should not be turned into a slum.
“This is the final notice to everyone occupying the median of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. From next week, we are clearing the entire median. Every illegal structure will be removed,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the highway median was never intended to serve as a market or residential area, adding that the government must protect the massive public investment made on the 10-lane expressway.
According to him, thousands of enforcement personnel will be deployed to ensure the exercise is carried out successfully.
The governor also announced plans to strengthen waste management across Lagos with the addition of 150 new waste compactors to the state’s collection fleet.
He disclosed that waste collection tricycles would be introduced in inner communities where larger trucks cannot easily operate.
Sanwo-Olu further revealed that the state government is investing in modern waste processing facilities, including a material recovery and recycling plant expected to handle about 4,250 metric tonnes of waste daily.
He urged residents to support the government’s sanitation efforts by disposing of waste properly and paying their waste collection bills on time.
“Waste management is not the responsibility of government alone. Residents must also play their part by paying for waste collection services so operators can continue delivering efficient services,” he said.
The governor also encouraged parents to teach their children the importance of cleanliness and environmental responsibility from an early age, noting that a clean environment is essential for a healthier and more sustainable Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said Lagos is replacing its old waste disposal model with a more sustainable system that treats waste as a valuable resource.
Speaking during an inspection of the Olusosun Landfill after the sanitation exercise, Wahab said the landfill would serve as a transfer station, moving about 2,500 metric tonnes of waste daily to a new material recovery facility in Ikorodu, which is expected to begin operations before the end of the year.
He noted that the long-standing “collect and dump” approach to waste management is no longer sustainable due to land constraints and environmental concerns.
According to the commissioner, the state’s new strategy will focus on converting waste into wealth, energy, and other useful products.
Wahab appealed to residents to cooperate with the government’s ongoing reforms aimed at improving waste management and protecting the environment.
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