The Lagos State Government has continued its crackdown on illegal structures around school premises.

According to the PUNCH, the Enforcement Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, along with the Environmental Taskforce Team, visited the Community Senior Grammar School early in the morning on Wednesday.

They ordered the traders occupying the illegal structures to leave.

Following this, the structures were immediately removed by the officials. It was reported that the occupants had been given notice before the demolition.

Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, shared videos of the operation on X.com.

He wrote, “In a joint operation between the operatives from the Enforcement Unit of Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the Environmental Taskforce Team, illegal structures/shanties surrounding Ikotun Senior High School, Ikotun was removed earlier today after expiration of notices served. This continued operation is meant to keep the school surroundings across the state clean and safe for learning.”

In the videos, traders were seen quickly moving their goods out of the structures as government officials prepared to dismantle them. Some traders managed to salvage a few items before the demolition.

Residents have accused local council officials of illegally renting out the spaces. One resident, who chose to remain anonymous for security reasons, said, “The illegal structures you see around and the ones you see here are being rented out to the traders occupying them. They rent it out and thereafter collect levy from time to time.”

Another resident, Shina, added, “Until the government starts to penalise those selling the places to them, the structures will keep springing up again. After waiting for some time after the demolition, those collecting levies from them wait for a while before they start to allot it to a new set of traders.”

Previously, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps had also cleared illegal structures around the fence of Salvation Army Primary School in the Ayobo, Ipaja area.