Officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, on Saturday, commenced the removal of permanently closed inner gates in the Lekki area of the state, attributing this to what the government described as “the indiscriminate mounting and multiplicity of the gates, defacing the aesthetics of the environment.”
According to a statement and photos posted on X on Saturday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kunle Adeshina, this operation was in order to “rescue several residents of the state, especially in the Lekki 1 axis, who are suffering untold hardship of inaccessibility by removing permanently closed inner roads gates.”
Adeshina wrote, “The enforcement operation which was authorized by Mr Governor followed several days of traffic snarl which residents connecting Lekki were experiencing due to the inaccessibility of connecting roads.
“Roads and streets already enforced since the operation started include Sir Rufus Foluso Giwa, Theopilus Oji, Osaro Isokpan, Abike Sulaiman, Ben Okagbue MBA, Olubunmi Rotimi, Olanrewaju Ninalowo, Dele Adedeji, Abayomi Sonuga, Siji Soetan, and Rasheed Alaba Williams.”
Adeshina further stated that the Commissioner for the state’s Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, urged all resident associations that have such gates in their estates or communities, and always putting them under permanent lock and keys, to remove them voluntarily, adding that the state will restore the aesthetics being defaced by the indiscriminate gates by removing them across the state.
The Lagos State Government has ordered that street gates located in Lekki phase I, II and its environs be opened from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily during the yuletide to ensure the ease of vehicle movement and reduce traffic congestion that may arise in the area due to holiday activities.
It also added that strict compliance is necessary, as contravention of this directive will warrant sanctions from the state.
