Lagos orders immediate eviction of Squatters under Obalende Bridge

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Government has issued an immediate quit notice to all squatters operating under the Obalende Bridge and motor park, directing them to vacate the area to pave the way for a comprehensive redevelopment of the space.

The directive was announced on Wednesday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, during an inspection tour of the Obalende axis.

Wahab said the affected occupants had been given only a few hours to comply, stressing that the decision was not sudden as prior notices had been issued as far back as 2024.

According to him, the state already has the necessary approvals to proceed with the project, which is aimed at transforming the under-bridge space into a functional and environmentally sustainable public facility.

“We have the approval from the state government already; the essence is to clean it in a sustainable manner and transform it into an environmentally sustainable space,” he said.

Wahab disclosed that enforcement officials of the ministry were already on ground to ensure compliance with the quit order, after which the site would be formally handed over to a major private company that has expressed interest in redeveloping the area as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

He explained that the process took some time due to extensive consultations with the company to ensure that the design aligns with sustainability standards and that the firm would also be responsible for maintaining the facility after completion.

The redesigned Obalende under-bridge space, he said, will feature a motor garage, public toilets, sleeping bays and electric vehicle charging points.

The initiative, he added, is also intended to eliminate criminal activities that have made the area unsafe for residents.

“We just want to redesign and make it habitable and functional for a 21st century economy in a state like Lagos. So once we hand over to them, we can now start following up. We are going back there for the handover and then we are going to share with the media the design that is coming up there,” Wahab stated.

During the tour, the commissioner and his team also visited Oja Oba on Lagos Island, where the local government has proposed to finance and execute the beautification of the space under the bridge.

He reiterated that all open spaces must be put to proper and productive use, citing the under-bridge area at Osborne, which has been successfully converted into a football pitch.

Wahab further revealed that the Adeniji–Ilubirin loop would also undergo transformation, noting that the area is currently plagued by illegal activities.

“I just mentioned that we have taken a drone shot of the place; and then we will work on how we can put them to proper clusters,” he said.

He warned that the Lagos State Environmental Law prohibiting street trading and illegal waste disposal remains in force, urging residents and traders to desist from violating environmental regulations.

Places visited during the inspection included the Obalende under-bridge and motor park, Ilubirin under loop and Oja Oba on Lagos Island.

The commissioner was accompanied by the Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Permanent Secretaries Dr. Gaji Omobolaji (Environmental Services) and Engr. Mahamood Adegbite (Drainage Services); LAWMA Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegeshin; LASPARK General Manager, Mrs. Toun Popoola; KAI Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd); LASWMO General Manager, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi, as well as other senior officials from the ministry and its agencies.