The Lagos State Government has issued an immediate quit notice to all squatters occupying the Obalende bridge and motor park area, as plans are underway to redesign the space into an environmentally sustainable and functional public facility.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing journalists after an inspection tour of the area. He said occupants had been given just a few hours to vacate, noting that they had been previously notified as far back as 2024.
According to Wahab, the state government has already granted approval for the redevelopment, which is aimed at transforming the area into a clean, safe and sustainable space. He added that enforcement officers from the ministry were on ground to ensure compliance with the quit order.
He revealed that the site would be handed over to one of the country’s largest companies, which has expressed interest in redeveloping and maintaining the area under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
The commissioner explained that the redevelopment was delayed due to extensive consultations with the company to ensure the proposed design aligns with environmental sustainability goals and government standards. He said the new layout would include a motor garage, public toilets, sleeping bays and electric vehicle charging points.
Wahab said the project would not only enhance sustainability but also help eliminate criminal activities and hoodlumism in the area, making it more habitable and functional for a modern megacity like Lagos.
He also disclosed that the government would soon unveil the final design to the public after the formal handover of the site.
During the tour, Wahab and his team visited Oja Oba on Lagos Island to review a beautification design proposed by the Lagos Island Local Government, which has offered to finance the redevelopment of the under-bridge space.
He stressed the importance of putting open spaces to proper use, citing the transformation of the under-bridge space at Osborne into a football pitch as a successful example. He added that the Adeniji/Ilubirin Loop would also be redeveloped to serve residents better, noting that the area currently harbours several illegal activities.
Wahab reiterated that the Lagos State Environmental Law prohibiting street trading and illegal waste disposal remains in force, urging residents and traders to comply with existing regulations.
Places visited during the inspection included the Obalende under-bridge and motor park, the Ilubirin under-loop and Oja Oba on Lagos Island.
The commissioner was accompanied by the Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Permanent Secretaries Dr. Gaji Omobolaji (Environmental Services) and Engr. Mahamood Adegbite (Drainage Services); Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegeshin; General Manager of LASPARK, Mrs. Toun Popoola; KAI Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd); General Manager of LASWMO, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi, alongside other ministry directors and agency officials.