Stakeholders Move to Dislodge Illegal Settlers in Lagos Community

Stakeholders Move to Dislodge Illegal Settlers in Lagos Community

Barely 24 hours after a pro-environment non-governmental organisation, Safe Habitat, called on the Lagos State Government and relevant stakeholders to show serious interest in the activities of aliens from neighbouring countries and criminals fleeing other parts of the country in some riverine communities in the state, there are strong indications that efforts are on to dislodge them and remove their shanties any moment from now.

The group with focus on environmental safety had in a statement by its Executive Director, Ade Williams, last Saturday said: “We are concerned about information reaching us that some aliens and criminals fleeing from law enforcement agencies have formed the habit of creating illegal settlements and shanties in some water front communities especially in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state, where they constitute environmental nuisance and launch criminal attacks on residents of Lekki, Ikoyi, Victoria Island among others.”

Williams said the earlier government and other stakeholders take decisive action against such settlements and shanties, the better for the environment, lawful residents and business development of the area and the state at large.

In a follow up statement yesterday, Safe Habitat said: “We are glad to update members of the public that further information reaching us after our statement last Saturday indicates that both the state government and the relevant stakeholders in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state have started taking steps to remove the shanties in Ebute Ikate Elegushi to stop the entrenchment of environmental nuisance and security threats coming from the community.”

While commending the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; the Elegushi royal family and the Ikate Elegushi Residents Association for rising up to the challenge, Safe Habitat noted that the state government had taken similar action last year to rid Ikoyi and Victoria Island of such environmental nuisance.

Williams said past government in the state had equally summoned the same will to cleanse Kuramo beach of criminal activities in 2007 by dislodging illegal settlers erecting shanties there.

“We are aware that the prompt response by the state and the relevant stakeholders is to disallow fleeing Boko Haram insurgents dislodged from the Northeast, Niger Delta militants and other criminal elements from neighbouring countries from having a foothold in Eti-Osa and indeed the state. “We indeed commend this and urge all stakeholders to mobilise support for the effort,” Safe Habitat Executive Director, Williams stated.