Sanwo-Olu
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has issued a final notice to illegal traders and occupants on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway median, declaring that a massive demolition and clearance exercise will commence next week.
Speaking on Saturday during the state’s monthly environmental sanitation monitoring at Itire Road in Surulere, Sanwo-Olu condemned the encroachments as an abuse of public infrastructure that threatens ongoing investments along the transit corridor.
The enforcement exercise will stretch from Orile-Iganmu to Okokomaiko, targeting all unauthorized structures on the highway median.
“This is the final notice to everyone occupying the Lagos-Badagry Expressway median,” Sanwo-Olu warned.”
From next week, the government will clear the entire median and restore it to its intended purpose. All illegal structures and encroachments will be removed because the median is not meant for trading or habitation.”
The governor added that the state will deploy necessary personnel and equipment to ensure sustained compliance along the highway.
Massive Expansion in Waste Management
Beyond the clearing of the expressway, Governor Sanwo-Olu announced a series of major initiatives aimed at overhauling waste management and environmental sanitation across Lagos, including:
150 New Compactor Trucks: The state has approved the procurement of 150 large compactor trucks to improve refuse evacuation. The first batch is expected to arrive within three months.
Local Assembly for Inner Roads: In partnership with local councils, the government is procuring smaller compactor trucks specifically for inner roads and estates, some of which will be assembled locally to support domestic industry.
Mega Recycling Facility: Plans are underway for a modern material recovery and recycling facility capable of processing 4,250 metric tonnes of waste daily into reusable materials. The facility is slated to become operational next year, significantly easing the pressure on existing landfills.
A Call for Collective Responsibility
The governor acknowledged the operational and financial hurdles currently facing Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators, reassuring residents that government interventions are underway to boost their capacity.
However, he urged citizens to do their part by paying their waste disposal bills promptly.
“Waste management is a shared responsibility involving the government, service providers, businesses, and residents,” Sanwo-Olu said, also encouraging parents to involve their children in sanitation activities to foster environmental responsibility early.
The governor was accompanied during the sanitation monitoring by his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat and the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab.
