Lagos State officials made a startling discovery beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi, Lagos Island, uncovering 86 partitioned rooms rented out to tenants for a staggering annual sum of N250,000 each.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed this revelation on Wednesday, emphasizing the makeshift nature of the rooms and their clandestine operation.

“These rooms, numbering 86 and ranging in size from 10×10 to 12×10, were found under the Dolphin Estate Bridge. Tenants were paying an annual fee of N250,000 for these illegal accommodations,” Wahab disclosed in a post on http://X.com.

Videos shared by Wahab showcased the enforcement team in action, dismantling structures and removing a container utilized for various unlawful activities under the bridge.

18 individuals squatting illegally under the bridge leading from Dolphin Estate were arrested yesterday 30th of April, 2024 by the officials from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps @LAGESCOfficial (KAI).

The illegal shanties have been dismantled this morning.… pic.twitter.com/S4GfcC4RXp

— Tokunbo Wahab (@tokunbo_wahab) May 1, 2024

“A total of 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10, along with a container used for different illegal activities, have been removed by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources,” Wahab reiterated.

The eviction operation was spearheaded by the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), resulting in the removal of squatters from the vicinity towards Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi. Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, confirmed the operation and subsequent arrests.

“These individuals had established an illegal settlement under the bridge, posing a threat to critical infrastructure. A total of 23 persons have been apprehended, and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) will continue to monitor the area,” Rotimi-Akodu stated.

Rotimi-Akodu further elaborated on the perilous conditions found within the makeshift accommodations, highlighting the use of wood materials, gas cylinders, and stored fuel for generators, all potential fire hazards.