LAGOS DEMOLISHES OVER 200 ILLEGAL SHANTIES, UNCOVERS WEAPONS UNDER COSTAIN BRIDGE

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Lagos State Government has demolished more than 200 illegal shanties and dislodged several criminal hideouts beneath Costain, Ijora, and Apapa Road, as part of an ongoing crackdown on unlawful structures and insecurity along key transport corridors.

The large-scale operation, coordinated by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, was carried out in collaboration with multiple state agencies to reclaim public spaces, restore environmental order, and curb criminal activities in the area.

During the clearance, operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) made a shocking discovery of a dummy gun and other concealed weapons hidden beneath the Costain Bridge.

LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that the items were recovered from makeshift structures used as criminal hideouts.

Giwa, while condemning the state of the affected areas, described the illegal occupation as “a monumental affront to public decency and order,” adding that no responsible government would tolerate such lawlessness within vital infrastructural zones.

He explained that the operation was part of the government’s sustained efforts to combat traffic robberies, drug peddling, and environmental nuisance, which have become rampant in some parts of Lagos.

The special adviser also disclosed that abandoned trucks and unauthorised garages converted into criminal dens were cleared from the Ijora Bridge axis.

The exercise, which involved LAWMA, KAI, LAMATA, the Nigeria Police Force, and other agencies, saw teams working jointly to remove derelict vehicles and dismantle shanties across the Costain–Ijora–Apapa corridor.

Giwa reaffirmed the government’s determination to sustain the urban renewal drive and warned that anyone attempting to reoccupy the cleared sites would face “swift and decisive sanctions.”

“The Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration remains committed to building a safer, cleaner, and more habitable Lagos,” Giwa said, commending all participating agencies for their cooperation.

He urged residents to support government initiatives and maintain law-abiding conduct to ensure lasting order across the state.