The Lagos State Government has demolished over 200 illegal shanties and dislodged multiple criminal hideouts beneath Costain, Ijora, and Apapa Road, as part of a sweeping enforcement operation to restore order and security along key transport corridors.
The large-scale cleanup was coordinated by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, and supported by a joint task force comprising several state and security agencies.
According to Giwa, the exercise aimed to curb traffic robberies, drug peddling, and environmental nuisance, while reclaiming vital public infrastructure from illegal occupants.
“No responsive and responsible government would countenance such brazen lawlessness within vital infrastructural zones,” Giwa said, describing the affected areas as “a monumental affront to public decency and order.”
During the clearance, operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) discovered a dummy gun and other weapons concealed under the Costain Bridge, allegedly hidden by suspected criminals operating in the area.
Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, confirmed the discovery in a statement, saying the items were recovered from makeshift shelters built beneath the bridge.
Authorities also removed long-abandoned trucks and dismantled unauthorised garages around Ijora Bridge, which had been converted into criminal hideouts.
Giwa reaffirmed the government’s determination to sustain the exercise as part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s urban renewal agenda.
“The Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration remains committed to a safer, cleaner, and more habitable Lagos.
“Any illegal occupants who attempt to return to these cleared sites will face swift and decisive sanctions, ” he said.
Giwa commended the joint task force for its coordination and urged residents to support the government’s drive to reclaim public spaces and enhance safety across Lagos.
“This operation is not punitive — it’s protective. It ensures that our public infrastructure serves everyone safely and efficiently,” he added.
The operation featured the participation of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), and the Nigeria Police Force.
Teams cleared derelict vehicles and shanty structures from Apapa Road, Ijora, and Costain inward Iponri, with LAWMA overseeing environmental restoration and waste evacuation.
