Lagos to demolish 100 shanties at Adeniji Adele, asks occupants to leave

The Lagos government says it will undertake an enforcement action to remove over 100 shanties at the Adeniji Adele under-bridge area of the state. 

In a statement posted on his X handle on Sunday, Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos commissioner for environment and water resources, said the decision to remove the shanties follows the expiration of a 48-hour notice given to the occupants to vacate the area.

He said operatives of the kick against indiscipline (KAI) and officials from the monitoring enforcement and compliance (MEC) department of the ministry would be given security backup to carry out the operation.

“This exercise is part of the avowed commitment of the present administration under Mr @jidesanwoolu to reclaim all ungoverned spaces that dot the Lagos landscape,” the statement reads.

“Unsightly shanties which are located in the heart of Lagos Island represent a distorted image of what a smart city like Lagos should be.

“Apart from the unsanitary conditions of residents in the shanties, it also serves as a hiding place for criminals and points for peddling hard drugs and substances which is injurious to the wellbeing of law-abiding residents.

“Therefore, I advise all the occupants of the shanties in their interest, to voluntarily move out with their belongings before the commencement of the enforcement operations on Monday.”