Sanwo-Olu Orders 72-Hour Eviction Of Lagos-Badagry Shanty Residents

According to Ireporter Online, the Lagos State Government has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to individuals occupying shanties and temporary structures along the median of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, directing them to vacate the area ahead of a planned enforcement exercise.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the directive on Saturday after participating in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Surulere Local Government Area, which also had his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, in attendance as part of the state’s ongoing cleanliness and waste management campaign.

The governor stated that enforcement teams would be mobilised from next week to dismantle all illegal structures along the corridor stretching from Orile-Iganmu to Okokomaiko, stressing that the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, described as a key international gateway, must not be allowed to deteriorate into an unregulated settlement. He emphasised that the structures on the highway median were illegal and would be completely cleared, adding that the operation would involve a large deployment of personnel to ensure full compliance.

He further explained that the administration was intensifying efforts to improve environmental sanitation across the state, including the planned introduction of 150 additional waste compactors and the deployment of waste tricycles to hard-to-reach communities. According to him, the government is also investing in a modern waste processing system capable of handling thousands of metric tonnes of waste daily, aimed at converting waste into usable resources rather than relying on traditional disposal methods.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also appealed to residents to support the state’s environmental initiatives by disposing of waste responsibly and ensuring timely payment of waste collection fees, noting that effective sanitation requires both government action and public cooperation.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, during an inspection of the Olusosun Landfill, reiterated the government’s plan to phase out the long-standing “collect and dump” waste management system. He explained that the state is transitioning towards a more sustainable model that prioritises recycling and resource recovery, with plans to establish transfer loading stations and a material recovery facility in Ikorodu expected to process thousands of metric tonnes of waste daily.

Wahab added that the reform is necessary due to land constraints and environmental concerns, urging residents to cooperate with ongoing efforts to ensure a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos.