The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) joined forces to initiate a comprehensive cleanup operation in Apapa and its surrounding areas.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, announced that the cleanup efforts targeting environmental degradation commenced over the weekend, following the expiration of notices given to owners of illegal shanties, kiosks, containerized shops, and abandoned trailers in the Apapa vicinity.

Mr. Oreagba verified that the cleanup operation, spanning a duration of 7 days, began with the demolition of numerous illegal shanties, kiosks, and containerized shops, as well as the towing of abandoned trailers and dismantling of unauthorized garages.

He further emphasized that the demolished illegal shanties near the Nigerian Port posed not only health and safety hazards but also served as hideouts for criminals.

The General Manager stated, “The team has towed away all abandoned trailers from the first gate of the Nigerian Port to the area beneath Lilypond Bridge, which were causing environmental nuisances.”

“The area is becoming a breeding ground for miscreants and hoodlums who on daily basis extorts money from innocent motorists and impede the free flow of traffic”

The General Manager of Security at the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Jamil Khalil, recently indicated that the long-awaited clean-up operation for addressing environmental degradation in Apapa and its surrounding areas is long overdue.

He emphasized that the Nigerian Ports Authority has actively conducted radio jingles and awareness campaigns to educate the public about the importance of this clean-up initiative.

Several Government Agencies were involved in the initial stages of the clean-up exercise, including the Lagos State Ports Command of the Nigeria Police, Op MESA, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).