The Lagos State Taskforce has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to street traders and illegal occupants operating along the Alaba Rago corridor of the Mile 2–Badagry Expressway, ordering them to vacate the area ahead of a large-scale enforcement operation.

The agency said the planned exercise is part of ongoing efforts to enforce environmental regulations and the ban on street trading as provided under the Lagos State Environmental Laws of 2017.

In a statement signed by the Taskforce Public Relations Officer, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, the agency disclosed that it would work alongside other enforcement bodies to remove illegal trading activities and structures on highways, road medians, walkways and setbacks within the Alaba Rago axis.

According to the statement, the corridor has increasingly become a source of concern due to environmental degradation, traffic obstruction, safety hazards and security challenges affecting residents, commuters and visitors entering Nigeria through the Seme border route.

The enforcement exercise will target makeshift shops, illegal structures, mini brothels, used-plastic collection points, indiscriminate waste disposal sites and other activities considered violations of environmental and public safety laws.

Speaking during a sensitisation campaign in the area, Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, urged affected traders and occupants to relocate voluntarily within the stipulated period to avoid sanctions.

He described the Alaba Rago section of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, also known as the ECOWAS Road, as a critical gateway that must be protected from activities capable of undermining public safety and the state’s urban development goals.

“Lagos State cannot continue to overlook the level of illegal activities and environmental hazards in the area. The situation is inconsistent with the status of a modern megacity, and the time has come to enforce the law,” Akerele stated.

He noted that the government had engaged stakeholders through consultations and public awareness campaigns before deciding to commence enforcement.

The Taskforce chairman warned that any individual found trading illegally on highways, walkways or road setbacks after the expiration of the 72-hour notice would have their goods confiscated and could face prosecution.

Akerele reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to maintaining environmental order, public safety and security across Lagos in line with the administration’s THEMES Plus Agenda.

Tags: Lagos Taskforce, Alaba Rago, Street Trading Ban, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Environmental Enforcement, CSP Adetayo Akerele, Lagos State Government, Mile 2, ECOWAS Road, Urban Development.

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The suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence indicating that they were obstructing lawful occupants from conducting their activities. Reports also revealed that the group allegedly assaulted Mr. Ashafa of Prestige Hotel, Ikeja, and arrived at the scene armed with dangerous weapons.

According to the Taskforce, the operation aligns with its mandate to curb land grabbing in Lagos, a practice that threatens development and deprives rightful owners of their properties.

Taskforce Chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, who personally led the operation, issued a stern warning to individuals involved in land grabbing, emphasizing that the agency would not tolerate unlawful dispossession of properties in the state.

The arrested suspects were arraigned in court, where they pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court granted them bail at ₦500,000 each, with two sureties per defendant—one of whom must be a civil servant not below Level 14, while the other must be a relative, a clergy member, or a community leader.

The case has been adjourned to March 26, 2025, for further proceedings.

The Lagos State Taskforce reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining law and order, urging residents to report any cases of land grabbing, violence, or intimidation to the appropriate authorities.

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