The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) says 30 people were arrested on Wednesday for rebuilding shanties at Marwa Ghetto, after being cleared to serve as an alternate route for the Lekki-Epe expressway.
A few days ago, the Lagos Taskforce cleared a stretch of road for motorists to use to reduce congestion on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, and the 30 persons were arrested when CSP Shola Jejeloye led a team to inspect it.
He reported that trespassers regrouped and rebuilt the shanties removed by the local officials on the road, expressing surprise at the audacity of the squatters.
While expressing shock at the level of impunity displayed by the illegal occupiers, Jejeloye maintained that the Government would prosecute the arrested culprits to serve as a deterrent to others.
He pointed out that they built the shanties on a strategic road that serves as an alternative route to Lekki-Epe Expressway, leading to Lekki Free Trade Zone.
In his words, “Government has been very lenient with them. We were here some days earlier, and we served notices to explain the need to move away from the road. Days after that, we were here to serve them a three-day removal notice. We came back on the fifth day to remove all the shanties”.
“But, here we are again, they have regrouped and rebuilt the illegal shanties on the route again. It is like daring the Government. We would make scapegoats of these 30 people we have arrested and clear the shanties again”.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Traffic Law Enforcement Task Force continues to enforce Lagos State Traffic Law 2018 by impounding 57 commercial motorcycles for operating on prohibited routes in Costain, CMS, and Lekki.
