On Monday, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps took action to remove both miscreants and beggars who were occupying pedestrian bridges across the state.
This was revealed by the state’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, via his social media handle on Monday.
Wahab stated that the enforcement action was prompted by public complaints about the presence of these individuals, which was deterring pedestrians from using the bridges. Additionally, report has it that the state government had previously urged residents to utilize pedestrian bridges and had instructed the prosecution of pedestrians who crossed highways instead.
According to the commissioner, an enforcement operation led by Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Cole (retd.) on Monday dislodged “touts and miscreants constituting nuisance on the Oshodi and Ikeja-along pedestrian bridges.”
Wahab wrote, “The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps #LAGESCOfficial aka KAI led by Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Olaniyi Cole (Retd) earlier today conducted an enforcement operation to dislodge touts and miscreants constituting nuisance on the Oshodi and Ikeja-along pedestrian bridges.
“While we encourage Lagosians to desist from crossing the highways and use the pedestrian bridges, this enforcement will be conducted and sustained across the state and any person found constituting a threat to the safety of pedestrians on highways will be apprehended and prosecuted by the courts to serve as a deterrents to others.”
Investigation conducted in August 2023 uncovered that many of the expensive bus stop shelters and bridges, costing millions of naira, built in various areas of Lagos State to cater to the needs of the state’s numerous commuters, were no longer being used by their intended beneficiaries. Instead, these structures had been commandeered by troublemakers, individuals with mental health challenges, and traders. As a result, commuters for whom these facilities were originally constructed were displaced and unable to utilize them effectively.
