The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has approved the commencement of the enforcement of the Clean-Up of the inner streets of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki.
According to a press statement signed by the Chairman of the Clean-Up Committee and Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, the affected residents with illegal structures were given 14 days grace to remove such infractions.
The Governor gave the go-ahead on Monday after receiving briefing from the committee on the completion of the first stage of the exercise, which involved the major streets.
Bello said the committee is now set to deploy its Task Force to all the inner streets of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki after the grace period of the Governor.
He and recalled that Ambode had in late December last year directed that the Clean Up enforcement be stepped down because of the festive period.
He said that early this year, following the observation that some of the cleared places are being reconstructed, a mop up exercise was carried out, adding that the Governor has further directed that another mop up of the areas already cleared during the first stage of the exercise be embarked upon.
Bello explained that since the completion of the first stage of the clean up last year, the committee has also continued with its advocacy programme to all residents on the need to sustain the gains and ensure a retention of the original masterplan of the areas.
He added that the Special Committee has also been engaging stakeholders like Victoria Island Ikoyi Residents Association on how the Clean Up exercise can record more gains in terms of voluntary compliance by residents.
To the recalcitrant residents, Bello gave a word of advice: “We will bring the full effect of the law to bear on whoever contravenes our State Environmental Sanitation laws.
“For all the mechanics and roadside automobile engineers who have been dislodged from the major streets, but have relocated to the inner streets and have converted all the walkways, playgrounds, you have still not reached your operating destination.
“The Task Force is coming after you when the second phase commences.
“The earlier you realize that there is no place for roadside mechanics, street traders, illegal shanties or abandoned properties in those areas, the better for you.”
Bello said the State Government will not hesitate to shut down the Federal Marriage Registry in Ikoyi, whose patrons always constitute a nuisance by indiscriminate parking on the road if an immediate solution is not proffered by the owners.
The SSG informed that Mobile Courts would also be sitting to try all offenders on all days of the inner streets Clean-Up operation.
Bello reiterated the determination of the Ambode administration to restore the original master plan of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki by checking the activities of street traders, owners of shanties and roadside automobile repairers, who have converted many dual carriage lanes to single lanes and walkways with indiscriminate parking and other forms of illegalities in the areas.
He said: “We are also using this medium to again sensitize members of the public and residents of the affected inner streets areas who are involved in these illegalities to immediately take immediate action and do the needful as the State Government will take the necessary steps to enforce its environmental and sanitation laws forthwith.”
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