LAGESC Dislodges Road Side Traders Along Mile 12 Market, As LASG Suspends Devt Of Estate Approval In Lekki

The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI), Thursday, commenced dislodgement of recalcitrant traders along the ever-busy Ikorodu Road, Mile 12 in Kosofe Local Government Area, as part of efforts to clear the State of all environmental nuisances and other infractions, such as street trading on walkways/setbacks of major highways, which impedes free vehicular movement on the roads.

Speaking on the operation, the Corps Marshal of the Agency, CP Gbemisola Akinpelu (rtd), said the exercise was carried out by the Special Squad of the Agency to clear out street traders selling food items in the mid-section of the road in order to ensure free vehicular movement and enhance ongoing construction work in the axis.

According to her, “The Mile 12 International Market is large enough to accommodate all traders, as such, it is not only wrong for some traders to engage in street trading but it is against the law of the State and the Agency would not spare anyone in its bid to clear all environmental infractions”.

Warning motorists to desist from patronising street traders and hawkers, the Corps Marshal insisted that roads should be free of all obstructions, adding that the amended Environmental Laws of 2017 in Lagos State empowers LAGESC to prosecute anyone caught contravening the law.

Akinpelu reiterated that street trading and hawking are prohibited and the dislodgement exercise will be a continuous one in line with the directive of Mr. Governor to ensure that all nooks and crannies of the State are free of traffic gridlocks while a cleaner, hygienic and aesthetically pleasing environment is maintained.

Meanwhile, in its bid to maintain orderly and sustainable development across the metropolis, the State Government will suspend further development of housing estates without the requisite Layout Approval in the area designated as Sapata Village Excision, near the Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lekki.

The Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who made this known in Alausa on Wednesday, while receiving situation report on the area added that in a bid to take advantage of the Regional Road project, developers had embarked on rapid indiscriminate development of estates in contravention of the State’s planning laws.

His words: “I have said repeatedly that we must halt the ugly situation in which planning had to chase development as against the opposite. As a result, developments around this corridor must be controlled to prevent another slum from springing up in the State, as any unplanned development in the area will ultimately negate the expected benefits of the regional road”.

Salako disclosed that Estates within Sapata Village Excision, to the right of Harris Drive, from VGC junction down to the Lagoon must, as a matter of urgency, come forward with their Approvals, including Layout, Planning Permit and Stage Certificates or make immediate recourse to the appropriate Government Agencies for same, otherwise, no further development would be allowed in such estates.

Noting that all hands must be on deck towards achieving an orderly, organised, livable and sustainable physical environment as envisioned by the development agenda of Lagos State, the Commissioner reiterated that prospective landed property buyers and off-takers should be wary of Estates or property without Approvals, in order to protect their investment.

“It is important that prospective property buyers and off-takers demand for the necessary Layout Approvals, Planning Permit and evidence of Stage Certification for the concerned property before committing their hard earned resources”, he emphasised.