Task Force Demolishes Illegal Structures In Lagos

Owners of unauthorised make-shift shops, kiosks and stores in and around Falomo Police Barracks and its environs watched helplessly as such structures were demolished last Thursday by men of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

The structures, it was gathered, were put up without due consideration for other residents while the authority of the Police Wives Association (POWA), the body responsible for any structure in the area was not informed in respect of that.

Superintendent Bayo Sulaiman, chairman of the Task Force, who led the demolition operation, told Lagos Bulletin that several notices of warning had been issued to owners of the structures but they have remained adamant.

Sulaimon also said there have been series of complaints about traffic situation in the area attributed to the illegal structures and that there was a directive from the Inspector-General of Police to officers to remove all illegal structures in and around the barracks.

The Task Force boss said the demolition was carried out in conjunction with POWA and the Police Commissioner’s office.

He said apart from giving way to free traffic, the exercise would make the barracks look tidy as expected.

He, however, said there would be constant monitoring of the place so that such illegal structures will not be reconstructed.

When Lagos Bulletin visited the site, the affected persons were seen picking what they could lay their hands on and one of them, who did not want her name in print, said it is true that they have been warned but they did not expect that the demolition would be so quick.

—Paul Sanusi