Lagos State Orders Squatters Out as Obalende Bridge Facelift Begins

The Lagos State Government has issued an immediate quit notice to squatters occupying spaces under the Obalende Bridge as part of plans to beautify and redevelop the area. The directive was issued on Wednesday during an inspection tour led by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.

Addressing journalists at the site, Wahab stated that the squatters had been informed of the planned clearance since 2024 and were given only a few hours to vacate the area. He stressed that the government had obtained all necessary approvals to transform the space into an environmentally sustainable and functional public area.

According to the Commissioner, enforcement officials of the Ministry were deployed to ensure immediate compliance with the quit order. He disclosed that the cleared space would be formally handed over to a private company that has expressed interest in maintaining the area as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.

Wahab explained that the redevelopment project experienced slight delays due to extensive consultations with the partnering company to ensure that the proposed design aligns with environmental sustainability standards and government objectives. The planned facilities include a motor garage, public toilets, sleeping bays, and electric vehicle charging points.

He further assured residents that the government would clear the area of hoodlums and criminal elements who have been terrorising the vicinity. The Obalende Bridge facelift, he said, forms part of the state’s broader agenda to reclaim public spaces and improve urban aesthetics across Lagos.