The Lagos State Government has demolished more than 200 illegal shanties and cleared several criminal hideouts beneath Costain, Ijora, and Apapa Road.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, coordinated the large-scale operation with support from multiple agencies.
Officials launched the enforcement exercise to reclaim public spaces, restore environmental order, and curb criminal activity along major transport corridors.
During the clearance, operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) uncovered a dummy gun and other weapons hidden beneath the bridges.
LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed in a statement that the items were found inside makeshift structures used by suspected criminals under the Costain Bridge.
Giwa condemned the condition of the affected sites, calling them “a monumental affront to public decency and order.” He stated that no responsible government would tolerate such lawlessness within critical infrastructural zones.
He explained that the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to combat traffic robberies, drug peddling, and environmental nuisance.
Giwa added that officials also removed long-abandoned trucks and unauthorised garages converted into criminal hideouts around the Ijora Bridge area.
The exercise involved teams from the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), and the Nigeria Police Force.
They jointly cleared derelict vehicles and dismantled shanties around Apapa Road, Ijora, and Costain, moving towards Iponri.
Giwa reaffirmed the government’s determination to sustain the pace of urban renewal across Lagos. He warned that any illegal occupants who attempt to return to the cleared areas would face swift and firm action.
“The Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration remains committed to building a safer, cleaner, and more habitable Lagos,” Giwa said, while commending all participating agencies for their cooperation and urging residents to remain law-abiding and supportive of government initiatives.