By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Lagos Police deny protest on Lekki-Epe expressway amid Shanties demolition
The Lagos Police Command has refuted claims of an ongoing protest on the Lekki-Epe Expressway following the demolition of shanties in the Jakande area of Ajah, Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
Contrary to reports, the police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that there was no protest in the state. He suggested that individuals causing disruption might have been hired to hinder government actions.
The Lagos State Government had announced plans to remove shanties and illegal structures around the Jakande estate and Mayegun axis. Dr. Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Electronic Geographic Information Systems and Urban Development, emphasized the need for compliance with removal notices served to occupants of the affected structures.
Babatunde expressed concern over the encroachment of shanties and illegal structures, particularly along the boundaries of Jakande estate and adjacent roads, affecting planned infrastructure projects like the Lagos to Calabar coastal highway.
While a viral video depicted individuals blocking roads and causing disruptions, Hundeyin assured that normalcy had been restored in the affected area, and the police were maintaining law and order.
This clarification comes amidst efforts by the Lagos State Government to address urban development challenges and ensure compliance with regulatory measures.
Lagos Police, shanties demolition