An extraordinary find has been unearthed in Lagos, catching the attention of authorities and residents alike.
Nestled beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi, an unexpected settlement was discovered where tenants reportedly paid a staggering N250,000 in rent each year.
The revelation came from Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos State’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources.
In a public announcement on Wednesday, Wahab disclosed that this clandestine community comprised 86 partitioned rooms, varying in size from 10×10 to 12×10.
Sharing videos, the commissioner wrote, “A total number of 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10, and a container used for different illegal activities were discovered under the Dolphin Estate Bridge,” emphasizing the magnitude of the find.
Videos shared by Wahab vividly showcased the eviction process carried out by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
The footage captured the removal of all structures, including a container utilized for illicit activities.
Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, a Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, corroborated the eviction effort, highlighting the removal of illegal settlers from beneath the bridge towards Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi.
Rotimi-Akodu revealed that 23 individuals were apprehended during the operation by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, commonly known as KAI.
Rotimi-Akodu emphasized the hazardous nature of the makeshift settlement, constructed from wood materials and housing gas cylinders and fuel for generators, posing a potential threat of disaster.
The eviction has brought attention to the lax enforcement of laws regarding such settlements, prompting authorities to vow continued monitoring and enforcement to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
