The Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman
of the Committee, Tunji Bello who disclosed this in an
interview with journalists on Wednesday, said the Lagos State government will commence a total clean-
up of the Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki axis. The Special Committee on Clean-Up of Ikoyi, Lekki, and
Victoria Island was inaugurated last week by the State
Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and has concluded plans to
commence the enforcement of the Environmental Sanitation
and Town Planning laws in the affected areas after the sallah holidays. According to the chairman of the committee the expiration of the 14 day ultimatum issued to all owners
of illegal structures,...
owners of abandoned buildings now
harbouring prostitutes, shanties, street hawkers and those
who have converted walkways into trading points and food
courts in the affected areas. The 14 days ultimatum which expires on Sunday,
September 11, 2016 was given to the owners of such illegal
structures to dismantle them voluntarily.
The chairman said the Committee decided to first embark on
sensitization campaign to give the owners of such illegal
structures enough notices to willingly pull down such
structures themselves before the government pulls them
down and also prosecute owners of such structures.
He informed that every modality has been put in place to
ensure that the original master plan of Ikoyi, Lekki, and
Victoria Island as envisioned by the founding fathers is
maintained.
He stated that the committee is poised to discharge the
responsibilities vested in it which includes, “Immediately
commencing the implementation of the approved action
plan and execution of the clean-up exercise; develop
strategies for preventing re-occurrences as well as other
recommendations as necessary to sustain environmental
renewal of these areas; and embark on a public
sensitization exercise for the sustenance of a cleaner
community in the axis.”
The SSG added that the administration of Governor Ambode
remains committed to doing everything possible to bring
environmental sanity back to every part of the State.
While re-echoing the views of the Governor when he
inaugurated the Special Committee, Mr Tunji Bello quoted
him as saying, “Cases of abandoned properties have
become very rampant with miscreants and criminal
elements taking over these properties as their base to
cause havoc. The neat road sides of the past now parade
pockets of kiosks, illegal parking lots, unapproved
mechanic workshops, roadside beer parlours and
commercial centres. In addition, originally residential areas
now have industrial and commercial concerns located
there, distorting the balance of the environment.
“These bad environmental practices, thriving in these prime
areas, can no longer be tolerated and will be brought to an
end immediately. These areas MUST regain their lost glory
as this administration demands a return of environmental
normalcy.”
Bello emphasized that the quest to have a safe, clean and
prosperous Lagos is not negotiable as the present
administration is committed to ensuring a cessation of the
continuation of the environmental infractions being
witnessed in Ikoyi, Lekki, Victoria Island.
He used the opportunity to advice owners of some of the
illegal structures who may still be sitting on the fence or
nursing the hope that the State Government would have a
rethink on the Clean-Up to make use of the window offered
to them now or face the full force of the law.
of the Committee, Tunji Bello who disclosed this in an
interview with journalists on Wednesday, said the Lagos State government will commence a total clean-
up of the Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki axis. The Special Committee on Clean-Up of Ikoyi, Lekki, and
Victoria Island was inaugurated last week by the State
Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and has concluded plans to
commence the enforcement of the Environmental Sanitation
and Town Planning laws in the affected areas after the sallah holidays. According to the chairman of the committee the expiration of the 14 day ultimatum issued to all owners
of illegal structures,...
owners of abandoned buildings now
harbouring prostitutes, shanties, street hawkers and those
who have converted walkways into trading points and food
courts in the affected areas. The 14 days ultimatum which expires on Sunday,
September 11, 2016 was given to the owners of such illegal
structures to dismantle them voluntarily.
The chairman said the Committee decided to first embark on
sensitization campaign to give the owners of such illegal
structures enough notices to willingly pull down such
structures themselves before the government pulls them
down and also prosecute owners of such structures.
He informed that every modality has been put in place to
ensure that the original master plan of Ikoyi, Lekki, and
Victoria Island as envisioned by the founding fathers is
maintained.
He stated that the committee is poised to discharge the
responsibilities vested in it which includes, “Immediately
commencing the implementation of the approved action
plan and execution of the clean-up exercise; develop
strategies for preventing re-occurrences as well as other
recommendations as necessary to sustain environmental
renewal of these areas; and embark on a public
sensitization exercise for the sustenance of a cleaner
community in the axis.”
The SSG added that the administration of Governor Ambode
remains committed to doing everything possible to bring
environmental sanity back to every part of the State.
While re-echoing the views of the Governor when he
inaugurated the Special Committee, Mr Tunji Bello quoted
him as saying, “Cases of abandoned properties have
become very rampant with miscreants and criminal
elements taking over these properties as their base to
cause havoc. The neat road sides of the past now parade
pockets of kiosks, illegal parking lots, unapproved
mechanic workshops, roadside beer parlours and
commercial centres. In addition, originally residential areas
now have industrial and commercial concerns located
there, distorting the balance of the environment.
“These bad environmental practices, thriving in these prime
areas, can no longer be tolerated and will be brought to an
end immediately. These areas MUST regain their lost glory
as this administration demands a return of environmental
normalcy.”
Bello emphasized that the quest to have a safe, clean and
prosperous Lagos is not negotiable as the present
administration is committed to ensuring a cessation of the
continuation of the environmental infractions being
witnessed in Ikoyi, Lekki, Victoria Island.
He used the opportunity to advice owners of some of the
illegal structures who may still be sitting on the fence or
nursing the hope that the State Government would have a
rethink on the Clean-Up to make use of the window offered
to them now or face the full force of the law.
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