Officials of the Lagos State Taskforce conducted a week-long cleanup exercise within the Lekki metropolis, resulting in the impoundment of 220 commercial motorcycles and the demolition of illegal structures and shanties.

According to Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, Director of Press and Public Relations of the Lagos Taskforce, the operation aimed to align the metropolis with its original master plan and create space for developmental activities.

Abdulraheem revealed that the impounded motorcycles were seized from various areas including Victoria Island, Bourdillon, Falomo, Ikeja, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Ojodu Berger, and Fagba, following a statewide ban on commercial motorcycle operations within these zones.

Highlighting the rationale behind the cleanup, Abdulraheem emphasized the environmental and safety hazards posed by the proliferation of shanties and makeshift buildings across the state, which also detracted from its aesthetic appeal.

In a statement, Abdulraheem quoted the Taskforce Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye, who described the operation as a crucial step towards restoring order, reducing crime, and reinstating Lagos as a megacity.

Jejeloye underscored the negative impact of shanties as breeding grounds for criminal activities, emphasizing the government’s commitment to eliminating such blights on the urban landscape.

“It’s no longer news that there is a concerted effort by the government to restore sanity and progress in the state, which had been hindered by the activities of squatters and miscreants who have converted state-owned property for private use,” Jejeloye stated.