The Lagos State is set to begin with the removal of illegal stalls obstructing public infrastructure on Lagos Island and its environs, following the expiration of a 48-hour notice by the Ministry of the Environment.

Commissioner for the Environment, Tokunbo Wahab made this known during an inspection of Oke Arin on Lagos Island.

According to him, the ultimatum served last Thursday was part of the government’s efforts to pave the way for the urban regeneration of the area.

“What we came to do this morning is to ascertain the level of compliance with respect to the notices issued on Thursday. We have served all the notices, and statutorily, we have fulfilled what we were required to do by the law,” Wahab said.

He confirmed that the enforcement would begin without delay, saying: “By Tuesday, we will start the full removal of all those extensions impeding the public infrastructure within the system here,”

The notice affected traders under Apogbon Bridge and those with illegal stalls on drainage setbacks.

Wahab expressed displeasure at contractors leaving building materials on roads and drainage systems, stating that such actions destroy public infrastructure and create avoidable challenges.

“Now, we also noticed people are just taking the laws into their hands. They will put their building materials alongside their mixers with cement on a constructed drainage and the road. In the next few weeks, the road will be destroyed, and they will be the ones who will be calling out the government for not doing the right thing,” he added.