The Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special offences has cleared shanties on the Lekki coastal areas to discourage haphazard development and promote a crime-free society.

The Chairman of the State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, Shola Jejeloye, confirmed this in a statement issued by the Director, Press & Public Affairs of the unit, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, on Thursday in Lagos.

Mr Jejeloye reiterated the agency’s commitment to the clearing of all shanties in the state to allow for free flow of traffic, discourage haphazard development and promote a crime free society.

He said the agency had recently “cleared shanties along Lekki-Marwa Coastal road, Sapphire Tower, and Blue Water Area of Lekki -Epe Expressway road and also made arrests of miscreants for flouting the state government laws which are not in line with the state physical and infrastructural development masterplan,” he said.

He added that those dislodged were residing like animals. “It is unthinkable to see people residing or sleeping in a place that is not fit for animals, we will make the state unhabitable for all the serial law breakers and criminals,” Mr Jejeloye said.

Noting that the state government had given the occupants series of notices and also carried out a demolition exercise of the same location for free flow of traffic.

“We have been here severally to demolish these illegal structures impeding free flow of traffic and construction of alternate road.

“The area is becoming a breeding ground for miscreants and hoodlums who engage in traffic robbery along this route and we will make sure we flush them out completely,” he added.

Mr Jejeloye said that the agency cleared over 25 shanties in 2021 and charged the residents to court for violating environmental laws.

(NAN)