Obalende under bridge has been home for me, children since 17 years, weeps 70 years old

…as task force demolishes 120 buildings, arrests 74

One of those dislodge from their ‘homes’ at under the Obalende Bridge, Lagos State, by the Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Special Offence Unit at the weekend is 70-year-old Mr Sunday Eze.

Eze, weeping profusely, said that he and his family had been living under the bridge for over 17 years.

No fewer than 120 buildings, shops and shanties located on drainage channels at Obalende area of Lagos State in violation of the building laws have been demolished by the Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Special Offence Unit at the weekend.

The agency arrested 74 people, including hoodlums smoking and selling illicit drugs. At least 20 vehicles abandoned in the areas were also towed away by the task force officials.

The Chairman of the task force, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi disclosed that the State Government began demolition of illegal structures, shanties and containerised shops around Obalende fly-over to pave ways for the free flow of drainages and canals.

Eze said: “I’m 70 years of age and I have been living with my wife and three children under Obalende bridge since I left Abia State over 17 years ago."

Eze, who said he doesn't have any relatives in Lagos commended the government for given him another 48 hours grace after the expiration of the initial six months 'Abatement Notice' for them to remove their wares/properties.

Also speaking, another trader Alhaja Bilikisu Adigun said she has been trading and living inside a containerised shop under Obalende fly-over with her husband for over 23 years. Bilikisu stated she had packed all her wares and properties before the commencement of the demolition exercise.

A man who identified himself as Mr. Akintunde Folami commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for demolishing illegal structures, shanties and containerised shops around Obalende.

He noted that miscreants and hoodlums terrorised innocent citizens around the area by dispossessing them of their valuables such as phones, wallets and jewelry in the morning and late at night.

Egbeyemi said that the exercise started after the state government issued 48 hours 'Abatement Notice' to traders/occupiers of illegal structures, shanties and containarised shops around Obalende fly-over.

The notice allegedly expired on July 27, 2017. Egbeyemi said that the government gave another 48 hours grace for the occupants to remove their wares/belongings before the commencement of the demolition exercise.

He noted that activities of the illegal traders, mechanics and people living around/under the fly-over were an eye-sore as they all allegedly used to dump refuse and used tyres into the canal and drainages, blocking the free flow of water, leading to flooding.

He stated that no responsible and responsive government would tolerate illegality of few people causing damages/ destructions to the generality of innocent members of the public.

On the statistics or structures pulled down, Egbeyemi said that well over 120 illegal structures, shanties and containerised shops had so far been demolished and 20 abandoned vehicles.

Egbeyemi hinted that all those arrested during the demolition exercise, which would last for 10 days, will be screened before being taken to court.

He implored members of the public, particularly traders around bridges and fly-over across the state to desist from dumping refuse and other metals into canals and drainages.