The Lagos State Government on Friday commenced the enforcement of the Clean Up of Ikoyi and Victoria Island with the impounding of 36 exotic cars and trucks from an illegal car mart and mechanic workshop located on the pedestrian walkway of Murtala Mohammed Drive, formerly Bank Road, Ikoyi.
The enforcement team, which was led by the Chairman of the Task Force on Environmental and Special offences, CSP Yinka Egbeyemi, also arrested four persons who were arraigned before a mobile court immediately.
One of those arraigned for converting part of the walkway on Bank Road to a beer parlour was fined N50,000, while all the cartons of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks on display were confiscated.
The three other persons who converted the walkway to a car mart were fined on each of the counts after pleading guilty and also had the 36 vehicles, which were fairly used of different makes, impounded by the court.
The enforcement team also pulled down a makeshift mosque which was located on the pedestrian walkway also Bank Road, Ikoyi.
All the remnants of the demolition exercise was carted away by Lagos State Waste Management Authority, while towing vehicles were provided by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority to move vehicles causing obstruction.
The team also touched Adekunle Lawal, formerly Magregor Road, and Olawale Daudu Road, formerly Lord Rumens, where a makeshift car wash opposite Abraham’s Court was dismantled and four vehicles wrongly parked towed away.
Speaking with newsmen at end of day one of the exercise, Egbeyemi advised people who have mounted shanties and illegal structures to remove same immediately, adding that Friday’s exercise is just a tip of the iceberg.
He added that the committee is committed to actualising its mandate of ridding Ikoyi and Victoria Island of all illegal structures and environmental nuisances.
He added that the special committee is planning to carry out the clean up exercise for the next six months and would ensure that it is sustained by KAI and Neighbourhood Safety Corps operatives.
The Special Committee had earlier embarked on several awareness campaigns through the electronic, print and social media to sensitise the general public, residents, owners of illegal structures on setbacks, walkways, drainage alignments, roadside mechanics and squatters in the affected areas to comply with the law, maintaining that anyone caught would be dealt with according to the environmental laws of the state.
As the exercise continues, commercial motorcycle riders plying restricted routes and commercial vehicles driving against traffic as well as those picking passengers on the main roads would also be prosecuted.
Night club owners and karaoke operators with inadequate parking spaces who encourage their customers to park on main roads, thereby making life difficult for residents to gain free access to their homes, would also not go unpunished during the Clean Up exercise.
A statement on Friday by the Director of Public Affairs of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina, said: “The resuscitation of the Special Committee became necessary following the various complaints received from members of the public and residents of the area on the unwholesome activities going on in Ikoyi and Victoria Island axis.
“The quest to have a safe, clean and healthy Lagos is not negotiable as the present administration is set to find a permanent solution to all environmental infractions being witnessed in Ikoyi, and Victoria Island as well as other parts of the state.”
Trending
- EFCC withdraws appeal against former Kogi Governor Bello
- Fidelity Bank commends Air Peace’s performance
- How AI, automation, and trusted data are shaping next-generation customer service, by Linda Saunders
- Veteran journalist Ray Ekpu loses wife
- Another Wike loyalist rejects Fubara’s redeployment, resigns as finance commissioner
- Akpabio tasks judiciary on sustainable reforms.
- Ex- judge’s daughter seeks share of late father’s property
- Gusau to committees: Formulate policies, programmes that will help Nigeria’s football grow