The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as KAI, has demolished 54 illegal structures, displacing 84 occupants and dismantling eight makeshift toilets under the Eko Bridge in the Ebute-Ero, Elegbeta Water Channel area of Lagos Island. The operation, led by the Corps Marshal, Major Olaniyi Cole (retd), was conducted on Monday as part of the agency’s efforts to mitigate environmental nuisances across Lagos.
Major Cole explained that the Elegbeta Water Channel under the Eko Bridge had become a hotspot for miscreants and unauthorized occupants who not only settled along the waterfront but also contributed to indiscriminate waste disposal into the lagoon. He noted that these structures served as a hideout for criminal activities, promoting open defecation and urination at the base of the bridge. The agency took action after issuing a 7-day abatement notice, which was ignored.
Cole praised Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, and reaffirmed that maintaining a cleaner, greener Lagos remains central to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ agenda.
The Corps Marshal warned against environmental violations, including indiscriminate refuse disposal in water bodies and illegal construction on road setbacks, emphasizing that offenders will face legal repercussions. He urged residents to avoid crossing highways illegally and instead use pedestrian bridges, warning that violators would be arrested and prosecuted.
With the holiday season approaching, Cole urged residents to be vigilant, encouraging community-based intelligence sharing to bolster security across Lagos.
