By peterside Rejoice 
Findings by Premier News have revealed that the Lagos State Government has cleared more than 200 illegal shanties and dislodged scores of squatters operating under and around the Ijora, Apapa Road, and Costain bridges in a major enforcement exercise aimed at restoring order and curbing crime in the area.
The operation, which was coordinated by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, was carried out through a joint task force comprising officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), and operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
During the exercise, operatives reportedly discovered a dummy firearm and other dangerous items concealed inside makeshift structures beneath the bridge, sparking concerns over the level of criminal activity in the axis.
Hon. Giwa, who supervised the operation, described the shanties as a breeding ground for crime and environmental degradation. According to him, the settlements had become notorious hideouts for drug dealers, traffic robbers, and miscreants who terrorised residents and commuters along the Ijora–Costain corridor.
He said the area had also turned into an illegal garage and dumpsite for abandoned trucks, many of which were being used as shelters by criminal elements. “This is a monumental affront to public decency, environmental order, and the collective security of Lagosians,” Giwa stated.
He warned that the state government would not tolerate the re-emergence of such illegal settlements around critical public infrastructure, stressing that anyone found attempting to return to the cleared sites would face stiff sanctions.
“We are determined to sustain the tempo. Any displaced miscreants who return will face decisive action,” the governor’s aide added.
The cleared zones, including the Apapa Road, Costain, and Ijora corridors inward Iponri, have long been identified as flashpoints for traffic-related crimes and environmental abuse.
Giwa commended the cooperation of enforcement and environmental agencies involved in the exercise, urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to authorities.
He reiterated the commitment of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to reclaiming public spaces, improving security, and promoting a cleaner, safer Lagos in line with the state’s urban renewal and megacity development goals.
Items recovered during the operation including the dummy gun, knives, and other materials have been handed over to security agencies for further investigations
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