The Lagos State Government has carried out a fresh enforcement operation in Lekki, targeting illegal occupants and criminal hideouts along the Okunde Bluewater Scheme.
Acting through the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, the state dismantled numerous makeshift structures and dislodged squatters, recovering firearms and dangerous weapons in the process. Several arrests were made as part of the sweep.
Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Ekundayo Alebiosu, who led the operation, confirmed the development in a statement released over the weekend.
He explained that the area had previously been cleared but quickly became a hotspot for criminal activity after the squatters returned. He said the illegal settlement had evolved into a serious security concern, used by miscreants for robbery, drug trafficking, and other unlawful acts.
Alebiosu stressed that this was not merely a case of clearing illegal buildings, but an issue of public safety. The shanties, he said, posed both environmental hazards and security risks that could no longer be ignored. He emphasized that the land is part of a planned world-class Bluewater Scheme and will feature coastal infrastructure aimed at boosting tourism and transportation in the state.
He warned that any future attempts to rebuild on the site would be swiftly dealt with, underlining the government’s commitment to maintaining order and securing waterfront areas. Ongoing surveillance and periodic enforcement will continue, he assured, to prevent any form of illegal resettlement. According to Alebiosu, this forms part of a broader effort to keep Lagos aligned with its Mega City vision safe, clean, and globally competitive.
