Lagos, Nigeria – In a recent discovery, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed that an under-bridge apartment has been found beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi, where tenants were paying an annual rent of N250,000.
According to Commissioner Wahab, the apartment consisted of 86 partitioned rooms, varying in size from “10×10 and 12×10”. He made this announcement on X.com, accompanied by videos showcasing the findings.
The enforcement team of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources successfully dismantled all structures, including a container that had been utilized for various illicit activities, from beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge.
Speaking on the matter, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, confirmed the eviction of illegal settlers from beneath the bridge leading to Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi. The eviction was carried out by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as KAI, resulting in the arrest of 23 individuals.
Rotimi-Akodu emphasized that these squatters had created an unauthorized settlement under the bridge, placing critical infrastructure at risk of damage. He stated that the law will be enforced and that the area will continue to be monitored by authorities.
The under-bridge apartment, consisting of 86 rooms partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10 spaces, had been rented out to tenants who were paying an average annual rent of N250,000.
Efforts to remove the dwellings beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge are ongoing, with an additional 11 individuals arrested during the process. It is worth noting that the shelters were constructed using wood materials, some occupants were using gas cylinders, and others had stored fuel for their generators, posing a potential threat of disaster.
The Lagos State authorities are committed to ensuring the safety and integrity of critical infrastructure, while also upholding the law and maintaining a sustainable environment for all residents.