The Lagos State Government has commenced the clearance of an illegal settlement discovered beneath the Osborne Bridge in Ikoyi, according to an announcement by the Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Wahab revealed that the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI) had initiated immediate clearing operations at the site.
The discovery of the illegal settlement beneath Osborne Bridge follows the recent dismantling of makeshift apartments below Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi. Tenants were reportedly paying N250,000 annually for a room in this area before government intervention prompted their eviction.
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The clearance of illegal structures encroaching on vital infrastructure is part of the Lagos State Government’s ongoing efforts to improve cleanliness and overall well-being in the state. Since the beginning of 2024, the government has been actively demolishing unauthorized structures encroaching on the rights-of-way of rail lines and other critical infrastructure.
Earlier this year, the government cleared shanties around the Blue Line rail under the Ijora Causeway Bridge and removed unauthorized structures beneath the Obalende Under-bridge. In March, similar efforts were extended to Jakande Estate and Maiyegun in Lekki, aimed at reclaiming space for the Lagos-Calabar Highway project and promoting urban renewal in these areas.
The government intends to sustain this campaign, focusing on illegal structures around the Blue and Red Rail Lines and other critical infrastructure. This commitment reaffirms its determination to eradicate squatter settlements and unauthorized constructions that mar the state’s landscape.
