The Kogi State Government has launched a major enforcement operation across Lokoja, demolishing illegal structures and taking action against activities that violate environmental, sanitation and physical planning regulations.
The exercise is being carried out by officials of the Kogi State Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, Kogi State Sanitation and Waste Management Board and the Town Planning Authority.
The enforcement followed a public warning by the government directing residents, traders, shop owners and property owners to stop activities that compromise environmental cleanliness, obstruct public spaces or threaten public safety.
Illegal Structures Demolished
During the operation, enforcement teams moved across identified locations within the Lokoja metropolis to reclaim public spaces and enforce compliance with approved environmental and physical planning regulations.
Structures described by government officials as illegal and erected on public spaces or areas reserved for environmental and infrastructural purposes were demolished.
Officials said other environmental and planning violations were also addressed as the agencies intensified efforts to restore order and ensure that public spaces are used for their designated purposes.
The government said the affected structures were erected in violation of approved planning requirements, stressing that the enforcement was necessary to protect public infrastructure, preserve the environment and prevent indiscriminate development in the state capital.
Kogi Govt Explains Demolition Exercise
The Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Joseph Oluwasegun Stephen, said the government was determined to restore environmental discipline and ensure strict compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
He said the operation was not targeted at any individual, community or group but formed part of the government’s responsibility to protect public spaces, maintain environmental standards and safeguard the health and safety of residents.
According to him, the government will continue to work with relevant agencies and stakeholders to address environmental challenges and ensure that Lokoja develops in a clean, orderly and sustainable manner.
Government Warns Residents, Traders
The commissioner urged traders, shop owners, property owners and residents to comply with government directives and avoid erecting structures or carrying out activities that obstruct roads, drainage channels, public infrastructure and other designated spaces.
He also called for greater cooperation from residents, noting that effective environmental management could not be achieved through government enforcement alone.
Stephen said sustained enforcement, public enlightenment and inter-agency collaboration would remain central to efforts to build a cleaner, safer and more orderly Lokoja metropolis.
The government said the enforcement exercise would continue at other identified locations as relevant agencies intensify monitoring and compliance activities across the city.
Affected Traders Seek Relocation Support
Meanwhile, some people affected by the demolition appealed to the government to consider their circumstances and provide adequate notice before asking them to vacate affected areas.
They also requested government assistance in identifying suitable alternative locations where affected traders could relocate their businesses and continue their livelihoods without violating environmental and physical planning regulations.
The development has renewed calls for a balance between strict enforcement of environmental laws, protection of public spaces and the provision of appropriate relocation options for businesses affected by urban renewal and environmental interventions.
