NEW Development: It has just been confirmed from the Health Inspector's office at the Local Government that the so-called Lagos State Government officials WERE on Illegal duty.

They were NOT sent by the authorities who served the shop owners with the earlier notice.

The Report:

This morning at about 10.15am, men who claimed to be officers of Lagos State Environmental Taskforce stormed Ogunbowale Street in Ilasamaja, Lagos state, to demolish 'illegal' structures.

The officials thrust their hammer on a 'shop extension' with the owner under it and it nearly collapsed on her.

The notice served on the shop owners and obtained for this report shows they were served on 27th november. They were given till Monday December 2nd to clear 'extensions' in front of their shops but these 'task force officials' showed up with hammers, destroying their means of livelihood.

The Team led by a certain Mr Ogundiran and another Mr Alao swung into action, demolishing the wooden structures without giving the owners time to move.

While the intentions of the state government as it pertains environmental reforms are laudable, the acts of theses officials are questionable.

1- The demolished 'extensions' are paid for. The Local Government often issues receipts for these same extensions, granting approval for their erection and usage, ONLY to come back to demolish them.

2- Out of the four men who came in the name of Lagos State Government, one of them DID NOT possess an ID card. This begs the question, on what ground did he come for the 'operation'?.

3- These men came in a private car with registration number: KTU 215BW. Why a private car when on assignment for the Lagos State Environmental Taskforce which has several vehicles at its disposal?

4- The Notice was served on 27th November, the shop owners were given till December 2nd to make amends. Why were their businesses attacked just Two days after the notice was served; three days before their period of grace was to terminate.

It also comes to mind, will the Local government refund them the paid sums since their 'extensions' are being demolished?

This is not the first time this will happen in Lagos. It is perhaps not new to many people, but, when do we put a stop to illegality?

Why pay levies when the government will still destroy what they levied you for?

More shops would have been demolished if this capturing was not being done, and of course the fear of a subsequent news report like this made these men stop.

The people of Lagos need to start speaking up. The government is trying to sanitize the state, BUT who are these men operating with an 'Unidentifiable' Official? Who are these men demolishing shops just two days after a notice was served, whereas they had 5 days of grace? Even under standard law, should it be 5days?


NB: There is a video recording of this questionable exercise, once it is uploaded on YouTube, the link will be made available. More video capturing was done, so, kindly make do with the few pictures available.

The 1st picture below is the 'Document' the Lagos State Government officials left behind so they could be reached for 'settlement'.