Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to occupants of shanties, makeshift structures and illegal trading points along the median of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, warning that a massive demolition exercise will commence next week.

The governor announced the directive on Saturday after leading the monthly environmental sanitation exercise alongside his wife, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, across communities in Surulere Local Government Area.

Speaking with journalists after the exercise, Sanwo-Olu said the state government would deploy enforcement teams to clear all illegal structures along the corridor, stretching from Orile-Iganmu to Okokomaiko.

“This is the final notice to everyone occupying the median of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. From next week, we are coming to clear the entire median. Everything there will go. Every illegal structure will be removed,” the governor said.

He stressed that the highway median was not designated for markets or residential structures, noting that the government would protect the corridor considering the huge public investment committed to the road project.

“It is a 10-lane highway built with taxpayers’ money. We will not allow anyone to turn an international gateway into a slum. We are deploying thousands of personnel to ensure compliance,” he added.

Sanwo-Olu also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve waste management across the state, disclosing that the government would soon add 150 compactors to its waste collection fleet while deploying waste tricycles to underserved communities.

According to him, the state is investing in long-term waste management infrastructure, including a modern material recovery and recycling facility expected to process about 4,250 metric tonnes of waste daily.

The governor urged residents to support government initiatives by disposing of waste responsibly and paying waste collection bills promptly.

“Waste management is not the responsibility of government alone. Residents must also play their part by paying for waste collection services to enable operators provide efficient services,” he said.

He further encouraged parents to involve their children in environmental sanitation activities, describing cleanliness as essential to building a healthier and more sustainable Lagos.

Meanwhile, during an inspection of the Olusosun Landfill, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the state was transitioning from the traditional “collect-and-dump” waste disposal model to a circular system that converts waste into valuable resources.

Wahab explained that the planned material recovery facility in Ikorodu would receive waste from transfer loading stations and process thousands of tonnes daily into reusable products and energy.

“We can no longer sustain the waste management system we have practised for decades. Waste must become a resource for wealth creation, energy generation and environmental sustainability,” he said.

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The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has announced that it evacuated 418,500 tonnes of waste across Lagos State in May as part of a broader effort to strengthen sanitation and environmental cleanliness.

The agency said the intensified clean-up campaign was aimed at improving public hygiene, reducing indiscriminate waste disposal, and maintaining a healthier environment for residents across the state.

According to LAWMA, the waste evacuation exercise covered residential areas, markets, highways, and other public spaces in different parts of Lagos. The authority noted that its operations were carried out through a combination of direct intervention and collaboration with private sector operators responsible for waste collection.

The agency explained that the sustained evacuation drive forms part of the Lagos State Government’s strategy to improve urban sanitation and ensure cleaner communities. It added that increased monitoring and enforcement activities have also been introduced to discourage illegal dumping and non-compliance with environmental regulations.

LAWMA urged residents and businesses to support the sanitation campaign by disposing of waste properly, patronizing approved waste operators, and avoiding practices that contribute to environmental pollution.

The authority also reaffirmed its commitment to expanding waste management infrastructure, improving operational efficiency, and promoting environmental sustainability across Lagos State.

Lagos, one of Africa’s largest cities by population, generates thousands of tonnes of waste daily, making effective waste management a critical public health and environmental priority for the state government and sanitation agencies.

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The has begun deploying artificial intelligence (AI) technology to detect early warning signs of flooding as part of efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, , disclosed that the state is using AI-driven systems to track water levels and monitor waterways across in real time.

He explained that the move is aimed at providing early warnings and reducing the impact of flooding, especially as the rainy season approaches.

Lagos vulnerable due to coastal location

Wahab noted that Lagos remains highly prone to flooding due to its coastal geography, with a significant portion of its landmass surrounded by water and areas like Lekki originally developed from reclaimed swamps.

Flood control team operates round the clock

To complement the technology, the government has deployed a dedicated flood abatement team working 24 hours daily to clear drainage systems and ensure free flow of water.

According to the commissioner, effective drainage management alone could address up to 50 percent of flooding challenges in the state.

Crackdown on illegal structures and waste disposal

The government also plans to remove illegal structures blocking waterways and replace them with sustainable solutions such as mangrove restoration, wetland preservation, and improved drainage infrastructure.

Residents were warned against indiscriminate waste disposal and open burning, which remain illegal and contribute to environmental hazards.

Push for smarter flood management

The initiative reflects Lagos State’s shift toward technology-driven environmental management, combining AI monitoring with traditional flood control measures to reduce risks and protect residents.

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The Lagos State Government has shut down the Ladipo Spare Parts Market along the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Apapa–Oshodi Expressway, over repeated environmental violations, including indiscriminate waste disposal and illegal street trading.

The closure was confirmed on Sunday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, via a post on X. He said the enforcement action followed persistent non-compliance with environmental and sanitation regulations by traders operating in and around the market.

According to Wahab, operatives of the Lagos environmental task force sealed the popular Mushin-based spare parts hub after observing continued dumping of refuse on road medians and highways, as well as widespread street trading that obstructed traffic and posed risks to public health and safety.

He stated that the state government maintains a zero-tolerance stance on activities that degrade the environment, stressing that markets must operate within approved guidelines to protect residents and road users.

Ladipo Market, one of the largest automobile spare parts markets in Lagos, has faced similar sanctions in the past. In 2023, the market was temporarily shut and later reopened after traders reportedly complied with waste management and sanitation requirements set by the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.

Officials, however, said recent inspections showed a relapse, prompting renewed enforcement.

The latest closure forms part of the Lagos State Government’s broader campaign to curb environmental abuse, illegal trading, and poor waste disposal across the metropolis. The administration has repeatedly warned market associations, traders, and transport operators that defaulters will face sanctions, regardless of location or economic importance.

Environmental officials noted that indiscriminate refuse dumping along major highways contributes to flooding, road deterioration, and the spread of diseases, especially during the rainy season. They added that illegal street trading around markets also creates traffic congestion and increases the risk of accidents.

A source within the ministry said the Ladipo Market would remain sealed until traders fully comply with all environmental and sanitation standards, including proper waste collection, the use of approved disposal channels, and the removal of roadside trading structures.

Reacting to the development, some traders expressed concern over the economic impact of the closure but acknowledged the need for better environmental practices. Others appealed to the state government to work with market leaders to ensure a swift resolution once conditions are met.

The Lagos State Government has reiterated that environmental cleanliness, public health, and safety remain key pillars of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus agenda. Authorities insist that enforcement actions are not punitive but aimed at creating a safer, cleaner, and more orderly city.

Residents and commuters along the Apapa–Oshodi corridor have welcomed the move, saying the activities around Ladipo Market had worsened traffic congestion and environmental degradation in the area.

The government has urged all markets across Lagos to take the enforcement as a warning and ensure strict adherence to environmental laws to avoid similar closures.

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The Lagos State Government has demolished 17 illegal buildings in Oral Estate II, Lekki, as part of efforts to restore the Right of Way along the Ikota River and mitigate growing flood risks.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, who led the inspection, condemned the encroachments, warning that private developers were narrowing river channels to create and sell plots, endangering surrounding communities.

“Flooding in Lagos can’t be eliminated but must be managed through responsible land use. Destroying wetlands and blocking drainage channels makes that impossible,” Wahab said.

Stop-work and seal orders were also issued at Partibons Homes Estate and Bee-Forth Estate Phase 2, where illegal reclamation activities were ongoing. Wahab noted that natural drainage systems like Channels 156 and 157, designed to direct stormwater to the Lagoon, have been compromised by unapproved developments.

The tour was conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Transportation, ahead of the Green Rail Line project. Transportation Commissioner Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi noted that auto dealers encroaching on wetlands and powerline corridors along the Lekki-Epe Expressway had been served notices, stressing the importance of preserving infrastructure corridors.

Officials also visited the Agodogba Collector Drain project at Parkview Estate, which is expected to provide major flood relief once completed.

The state government has pledged continued enforcement to restore wetlands and protect Lagos’ long-term environmental and infrastructure plans.

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