Ogun Begins Demolition Of Shanties On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Officials Of The Ministry of the Environment, Supervising The Demolition Exercise

Ogun Begins Demolition Of Shanties On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Ogun State government said it has began the demolition of shanties which were illegally erected on set-backs along the Lagos-ibadan Expressway thereby constituting environmental nuisances along that corridor.

A statement issued by Rotimi Odubiyi, spokesman of the Ministry of the Environment, stated that flagging of the demolition exercise at the Kara, OPIC axis in Isheri in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the State, occurred today.

Speaking of the demolition, Mr. Farook Akintunde, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, said the State government embarked on the exercise after several warnings and abatement notices served to the shanties’ owners, who are mostly traders to vacate all the road setbacks and move to formally recognized markets proved abortive.

Akintunde said: “the state government will not fold its arms and watch these shanties deface the aesthetic beauty of the state which is  the gateway to many states of the federation. 

“These structure are not only an eyesore,they harbour criminals who disguise as traders during daytime but perpetuate their nefarious activities in the night.

“Aside from these,the genuine traders among them sell in filthy environment which breeds rodents and vectors which have adverse health implications on those that patronize them especially unsuspecting commuters to the state who desire to have quick fixed meals”, Akintunde submitted.

He therefore advised genuine traders among them to move to formally  recognized markets which have enough spaces to accommodate them, saying the state government is desirous of not only destroying shanties in the Lagos-ibadan Expressway axis, but throughout the State, as all road setbacks will soon wear new look that befits the status of the ‘Gateway State’, while also warned that anyone caught re-erecting his or her shanties in the cleared areas will face the wrath of the law.

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