Wahab said in a post on his X account that all structures—including a container used for a variety of illicit activities—had been successfully removed from beneath the Dolphin Estate bridge by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
“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”
Further confirming the expulsion of squatters from under the bridge towards Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi due to unlawful settlement and environmental infractions was Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, a Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. According to Rotimi-Akodu, 23 people were detained on Tuesday during the eviction conducted by KAI, or Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, personnel.
“Squatters dwelling under the bridge leading from inward Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi were evicted Tuesday, 30th of April, 2024 by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps LAGESC (aka KAI). These people created their illegal settlements under the bridge, thereby exposing the critical infrastructure to impending destruction. 23 persons have so far been arrested and MoE/KAI will continue to monitor the place. The law will take its course.”
He further disclosed that the bridge had previously held 86 rooms, divided into 10 by 10 and 12 by 10 sections, with squatters paying an average of N250,000 a year in rent.
Removal of the residence beneath Dolphin Bridge is still ongoing. A further eleven people were taken into custody. Importantly, the shelters were built of wood, some residents used gas cylinders, and some had fuel stocked for their generators; these are catastrophe recipes, he said.
Watch a video of the apartments below…