Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has issued a three-day eviction notice to Lagosians living under the Iganmu bridge.

In a thread of tweets Mr Sanwo-Olu’s media aide, Gboyega Akosile, said, “Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task force) today (Monday) served squatters at Iganmu Under Bridge (Whitesand) a 3–day removal notice of all illegal structures, trucks, and vehicles in the area.”

Mr Akosile added that Shola Jejeloye, the police officer in charge of the task force expressed the government’s worry, claiming the area has become a hideout for criminals.

“The Chairman of the agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye, advised the owners of the illegal structures, abandoned trucks, and shanties to immediately remove them as well as vacate the area within the stipulated date given to them by the State Government.

“CSP Jejeloye while appealing to traders, mechanics, and other squatters living under the bridge in clusters noted that Government would enforce the 3-day removal notice on Thursday, 13 May 2021,” Mr Akosile tweeted.

He explained that the notice became necessary due to the rising incidents of robbery in traffic around the area and the environmental nuisance caused by the squatters.

Mr Akosile stated further regarding the planned eviction, “He (the task force boss) warned the owners of abandoned trucks and vehicles, shanties, containers, kiosks to remove them from the area before the expiration of the deadline, adding that this won’t be the first Notice of Removal being served on the occupiers.”

He also pointed out that Mr Sanwo-Olu’s newly signed executive order on traffic and sanitation declared zero tolerance for environmental abuse, illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, and defacing the environment.

“I can assure you that government would enforce this notice come this Thursday,” Mr Akosile tweeted.

In December 2020, residents of Monkey village in Ikeja were displaced as Mr Sanwo-Olu destroyed buildings in the area. His administration claimed the land belonged to the Meadow family and the demolition was based on a 1988 court order.

In 2017, Lagos forcibly evicted residents of Otodo Gbame from their homes.