Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Friday discovered a fake wooden gun during a demolition exercise targeting illegal shanties around Costain Bus Stop in the Surulere area of Lagos State.
The operation saw the removal of dozens of makeshift structures erected behind the bus stop shelter, along the railway setback, and under the Costain Bridge.
Speaking during the exercise, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Sola Giwa, explained that the cleared area had originally been designated as a commercial bus park. He said the demolition was necessary to reclaim the space for legitimate transport activities and to ease traffic flow in the area.
“While clearing the shanties, our team found a locally made wooden AK-47. This indicates that some of those occupying the area might have been involved in criminal acts. The government cannot allow such a situation to continue,” Giwa stated.
He added that the latest demolition followed an earlier clearance exercise carried out under the Costain Bridge. “When we first cleared the underbridge last week, the plan was to relocate commercial vehicles to this location. But when we returned, we discovered that the space had been illegally occupied. We had to act as a responsible government,” he said.
Giwa emphasised that maintaining order and enforcing environmental laws were essential to sustaining a functional city. “If we want a society that works, everyone must obey the law. The government will continue to clear illegal structures that threaten order and safety,” he added.
According to him, the surge in shanty settlements across Lagos is partly due to the influx of migrants from other states who arrive without proper housing plans. “Many people come to Lagos because of the development they see. Unfortunately, when they find vacant land, they move in without permission. We are reclaiming those spaces for public use,” he noted.
He revealed that the cleared space under Costain would soon serve as a bus terminal under the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), while displaced commercial buses would be relocated to the newly reclaimed area.
One of the affected occupants, identified as Ngozi, said she moved to the shanty about six months ago after her previous residence in Ijora was demolished. “I sell abacha (cassava-based local food), and most of my ingredients come from Oyingbo. That’s why I settled here. I don’t have a husband, and it’s hard taking care of my children alone. I just hope the government can help us since we’ve been sent out again,” she lamented.
Another resident, who declined to be named, alleged that some individuals had been collecting rent from occupants—ranging between ₦150,000 and ₦200,000 per year. “We paid to some people who claimed to own the land. When we heard about the demolition, we reached out to them, but they disappeared,” he said.
Friday’s joint operation involved personnel from LASTMA, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI), the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the Police, and LAMATA.
The demolition is part of a sustained government campaign to restore order, improve traffic management, and enhance safety across Lagos. Just last week, LASTMA operatives dislodged traders and traffic offenders along Apapa Road, Costain, and the Ijora Underbridge area, impounding several vehicles for obstructing traffic.