The Chairman of the Special Committee of Lagos State Government on the
Clean-Up of Ikoyi, Lekki and Victoria Island, Mr Tunji Bello has read the
riot act to all stall owners of the Giwa Barracks, DHQ Mammy Market
overlooking Kingsway Road in Ikoyi whose customers block the road with
their vehicles to relocate the parking lot to inside the barracks or risk
their vehicles being impounded.
Bello, who is also the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), spoke with
newsmen on Sunday after an unscheduled inspection visit to the area as part
of preparations for the commencement of the Clean -Up of the inner streets.
He said the activities of the motorists who patronize the market, park
their vehicles indiscriminately across the road and the setback was causing
a hindrance to free flow of traffic in the area.
According to Bello, severally and at peak hours, the lanes for traffic on
Kingsway Road which is a very vital link road has been reduced to single
lane due to indiscriminate disregard for traffic rules by the motorists.
He said part of the options open to the State Government includes walling
off the whole stretch of the setback and drainage alignment which has been
converted to parking lots despite repeated warnings.
He explained that the government is also in consultation with the Military
authorities on how the process of convincing the stall owners to relocate
the outlets of the markets from the roads could be sped up and would not
continue to tolerate distortions to its city master plan.
He reiterated the preparedness of the Committee to implement the directive
of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on the commencement of the Clean-Up of the
inner streets from next weekend.
Bello listed some of the streets that would be touched by the total
Clean-Up in inner Ikoyi to include Cooper Road, Cameron Road, Ademola
Street and Akanbi Danmole Street, among others.
Inner streets to be affected in Victoria Island, according to Bello, are
Tiamiyu Savage Street, Akanbi Kenku Street, Kofo Abayomi Street, Oko Awo
Street, Olosa Street, Akinbo Savage Street and Ologun Agbaje Street, and
several others.
The SSG also said the additional mop up of already cleaned areas directed
by the Governor was already in progress, reiterating the need for all
residents to assist in sustaining the gains of the exercise while the
government continues with its advocacy programmes.
The Committee also informed that in order to make the second stage of the
Clean-Up exercise a hitch free one, Mobile Courts would also be sitting to
try all offenders on all days of the exercise.
“We will bring the full effect of the law to bear on whoever contravenes
the provisions of the State Environmental Sanitation laws.
“For all the mechanics and roadside automobile engineers who have been
dislodged from the major streets but have relocated to the inner streets
and have converted all the walkways, playgrounds, you have still not
reached your operating destination. The Special Committee will come after
you when the second phase commences. The earlier you realize that there is
no place for roadside mechanics, street traders, illegal shanties or
abandoned properties in those areas, the better for you,” Bello warned.
He also reiterated the determination of the Ambode administration to
restore the original master plan of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki by
checking the activities of street traders, owners of shanties and roadside
automobile repairers who have converted many dual carriage lanes to single
lanes and walkways with indiscriminate parking and other forms of
illegalities in the areas.