Lagos demolishes 200 shanties, uncovers dummy gun at Costain

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Government has demolished more than 200 illegal shanties and dislodged criminal hideouts in a major enforcement exercise around Apapa Road, Ijora, and Costain under bridges.

The operation, coordinated by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, involved several government agencies working together to reclaim public spaces taken over by illegal occupants, abandoned vehicles, and environmental nuisances.

During the exercise, operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) discovered a dummy firearm and other dangerous weapons hidden beneath the Costain Bridge, confirming long-standing suspicions that the area served as a criminal hideout.

Giwa described the state of the cleared areas as deplorable, saying such unlawful occupation was a “monumental affront to public decency, environmental order, and the security of Lagos residents.”

He stressed that the government would not tolerate any return of shanty dwellers or miscreants to the cleared sites.

He explained that the cleanup was part of ongoing efforts to curb traffic robberies, drug peddling, and environmental degradation that have plagued the area for years.

The exercise also included the removal of unauthorized garages and abandoned trucks converted into makeshift shelters.

The multi-agency operation featured the participation of LASTMA, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), and the Nigeria Police Force.

Giwa reaffirmed the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to urban renewal, public safety, and environmental restoration, urging residents to support government efforts toward achieving a safer and cleaner Lagos.

He noted that the clearance drive aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of maintaining a secure, orderly, and sustainable megacity.