The Chairman of the Lagos State Task force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, Olayinka Egbeyemi, has issued a seven-day ‘Removal Notice’ to owners/occupants of illegal structures, mechanic workshops, containerized kiosks and commercial bus garages around government public schools at Mile 2, Badagry Expressway, Lagos.
He gave the order while addressing a gathering of illegal owners, occupants, traders, mechanics and sectional heads of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), warning them to immediately vacate the entire area as well as the vicinity of the schools within the stipulated period of time.
According to Egbeyemi, school authorities have continuously complained that criminals have turned the area to their hideouts and spots for carrying out their dubious activities.
He said: “It was disheartening seeing these illegal business operators like mechanics, Iron benders, food, fruits vendors and others turning the entire perimeter fence of these schools into illegal trading spots. In addition, they have littered the entire area with indiscriminate dumping of refuse and waste metal materials,”
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Egbeyemi noted that investigations carried out revealed that the “illegal” structures/shanties, “which serve as abode to criminal elements who rob unsuspecting members of the public of their valuables along highways on the Lagos-Badagry expressway”, did not have any permit or operating licence from the Lagos State government.
He reiterated that immediately after the expiration of the ‘Removal Order’ on Tuesday March 4, 2020, the agency would embark on a clean-up exercise in the area, and would clamp down on all criminal elements.