11th May, 2015
Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government has shut down a building in Ojodu-Berger area of the state in southwest Nigeria where dangerous animals such as crocodiles, snakes and others are being reared.
According to the government, the building, located at 13, Alhaji Abass Street, off Adebowale Street, Ojodu-Berger, was shut for illegally breeding dangerous and wild animals such as panther, water snake, giant eagle, crocodiles and others.
The property occupied by Mr. John Adekanbi was discovered by officers of the Ministry of the Environment who were carrying out House-to-House Awareness Campaign during the state monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the area.
The site in question is an undeveloped piece of land, poorly managed, filled with dirt, accumulated disused articles, waste and containers filled with stagnant water.
Dr. Abiodun Afolabi, Director Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance, who led government’s team on the exercise, said environmental nuisance discovered in the area included heap of vegetal waste in front of the premises, disused furniture items, disused articles, overgrown trees within the premises with branches extending over the perimeter fence to the neighbouring compound.
Other nuisances observed, he said were insanitary, improper and dilapidated toilet facility, illegal structure unfit for human habitation, among others.
“It was also discovered that some of the animals strayed away which also pose serious danger to neighbours and passersby. Before the sealing of the premises, officials in the State Ministry of the Environment and Messrs Origin Gardens, a renowned conservationist visited the location for an on-the-spot assessment after which a proposal was forwarded for the relocation of the wild animals within the premises to a proper zoological garden for proper upkeep.
“Subsequently, an abatement of nuisance notice was issued to the owner, Mr. John Adekanbi to sanitize and tidy up the environment of his property within 72 hours. Upon the expiration of the notice served and non-compliance by Mr Adekanbi, the Ministry officials with the Magistrate of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) Court conducted a an sinpection on the property with a view to obtaining a court order to evacuate the wild animals and junks from the premises,” he explained.
He said consequently, a seal order was placed on the property and that the evacuation of the animals and junks within the premises was done by Messrs Origin Garden Zoo and Sanitation Services Department of the Ministry of the Environment respectively.
Afolabi added that prior to the commencement of the evacuation exercise, the State Government relocated Adekanbi, his wife and son to a befitting accommodation while the evacuation exercise was carried out.
The state government’s law prohibits the breeding or keeping at home wild and dangerous animals that can be a threat to human life.