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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Lagos State Government has identified the ring leader who rented out the Dolphin Estate Under-Bridge apartments to tenants as “Mopol,” even as it intensified efforts for arrest.

This came as the state government revealed that out of 450 miscreants rescued at weekend, 79 have been absorbed into some government facilities for rehabilitation after showing signs of being unwell.

Also, on Saturday, the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, directed relevant ministries to take custody of children of squatters evicted from under Dolphin Estate and Osborne, Ikoyi Bridges for rehabilitation.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, said that a statewide exercise to free Lagos of visible security risks continued at the weekend after the arrest of some suspects under the Dolphin Estate Bridge.

According to Omotoso, “The ceaseless influx of miscreants, beggars, and the destitute onto Lagos streets has raised fears of insecurity of lives and property. This is unacceptable.

“As part of the exercise, 450 miscreants were at the weekend rescued. Of the lot, 371 pleaded for assistance to relocate to their various states due to the hardship they are facing in Lagos.

“79 have been absorbed into some government facilities for rehabilitation after showing signs of being unwell

The exercise will continue as part of the government’s responsibility to keep our citizens safe and secure.”

Also, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, alongside the Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, during an inspection tour at the weekend to the Dolphin Estate Under Bridge, and Ikoyi Towers, where illegal squatters occupied illegally, said
Governor Sanwo-Olu, has directed relevant ministries to take custody of children of the squatters evicted from underbridges for rehabilitation.

Wahab, who was full of compassion for the displaced children when he visited Dolphin Estate Under Bridge, along with the other team, said Mr. Governor has approved to take custody of the children pending the time they get permanent accommodation.

He disclosed the governor’s gesture when he met with Taiwo, Idowu and Alaba Johnsons, who are siblings during the inspection at Dolphin Estate Under Bridge.

Taiwo, 15, Idowu, 13 and Alaba, 9, Johnsons who attend Dolphin Primary and High School, said they remained at the demolished site because they have no other place they can call a home.

The children, who were seen playing a Ludo game, said their mother and father have gone out for their normal daily business activities and are expected to return later in the evening.

“We want the state government to assist our parents. We are poor from Delta State. We came to Lagos to find a living but things are too tough for our parents, that is why we are living under the bridge,” Taiwo told our correspondent

Wahab, subsequently, directed a senior officer in charge to make contact with parents of concerned children and the Ministry of Youths and Social Development for rehabilitation of children displaced from under bridges as approved by Mr. Governor.

The commissioner said the Environment Ministry and relevant counterpart ministry will collaborate on how to take care of some of the children of school age who lived under the bridge.

The commissioner said strict monitoring would be enforced to ensure that those displaced do not return, while removal enforcement would be extended to others identified under bridges across the state.

“The government remains resolute on extending its clean up exercises round the state as it has done at Apogbon, Obalende, Dolphin, Ijora Under bridges

Strong indication also emerged that security personnel have continued manhunt after the ring leader of landlords, simply identified as “Mopol.”

Wahab, said, “He can only hide for a while and can’t run forever. The long arm of the law will son catch up with him.

Wahab, earlier at at the on-going Ministerial Press briefing to commemorate the first year of the second term in office of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, held at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos said Government has intensified efforts to arrest for prosecution the ring leaders who rented out the under-bridge apartments to tenants.

According to Wahab, “In a renewed step to ensure safety of lives of residents, the operatives of Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI/LAGESC, in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Management law renewed the enforcement of the use of pedestrian bridges.

“At the count, a total number of 1,032 persons were arrested for crossing the highway and failure to use pedestrian bridges.

“165 miscreants and squatters on the pedestrian bridges across the state were also dislodged and the bridges cleaned up.

“The operatives carried out an operation that unearthed a major illegal housing settlement constructed under the Dolphin Bridge Ikoyi

An unbelievable 80 rooms partitioned 10×10 and 10×12 and a container used for different illegal activities was also discovered.

“All the structures have been dismantled and a total of 36 miscreants who lived under the bridge were arrested while efforts are being intensified to arrest the ring leaders who rented out the underbridge apartments which also add electricity supply.”

Recall that as part of the ongoing removal of illegal structures, the state government on Thursday, uncovered another set of apartments under bridge located in the highbrow area of Osborne, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

Earlier on Tuesday, Wahab, had in a tweet on his official X handle page, announced discovery of an apartment under the Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi where tenants paid N250,000 annual rent.

In the latest tweet on his X handle page on Friday, Wahab announced that the illegal settlement was discovered under Osborne Bridge, Ikoyi

According to Wahab, “Another illegal settlement was discovered under the Osborne Bridge, Ikoyi. Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps @LAGESCOfficial (KAI) commenced immediate clearance operation,” the commissioner wrote on X.

The state government had earlier dislodged tenants under Dolphins Estate Bridge, who paid N250, 000 annually to landlords involved in the nefarious act.

The tenants who were dislodged in the process were discovered during an enforcement exercise by officials of the state government during demolition of illegal structures

He added that the enforcement team of Lagos State’s Ministry of Environment and Water Resources had successfully removed all structures, including a container utilised for various illegal activities, from beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge.

The commissioner wrote, “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.

“A total number of 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10, and a container used for different illegal activities were discovered under the Dolphin Estate Bridge.

They have all been removed by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.”

Wahab warned residents to desist from unhealthy environmental practices that could undermine government effort in protecting the environment against degradation and other climate change effects.

He added that various agencies on environmental sustainability have been empowered to prosecute individuals or organizations caught degrading the environment in any form.

Commissioner revealed that “the state government is committing huge resources on environmental protection against all forms of degradation, especially, the fight against climate change and its attendant effects on human health and the ecosystem.”

He stressed that the state government would intensify efforts on enforcement to ensure compliance with the environmental laws to achieve a vision for a sustainable environment.

According to Wahab Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, which acts like the State environmental police, in the last 3 months had carried out 367 enforcement operations in households, markets, hotels, warehouses, sales points, industries, worship centers, Night clubs and other places for various environmental violations, while abatement notices were served on others for discharging raw sewage into the lagoon.

He warned that LASEPA has been empowered more than before to ensure total compliance with state environmental laws 2017 across the state to safeguard the environment against further degradation because of its consequences on human health and the ecosystem.

The commissioner who explained that various enforcement operations carried out by his Ministry and its agencies across the State were in the interest of the public, noted that the State government would not fold its arms while allowing selfish few to continue undermining reform efforts in preserving the environment for a better living and sustainable growth.

Also commenting on tenants under bridges, the Special Adviser on Environment and Water Resources, to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mr. Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, further confirmed the eviction of illegal settlers from beneath the bridge towards Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi.

Rotimi-Akodu said in total, 23 individuals were arrested during the eviction, which was carried out by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, popularly known as KAI.

He said the exercise was part of ongoing clampdown on illegal structures across the metropolis and aimed to rid Lagos of environmental nuisance.