Dr Idris Salako, Lagos State Commissioner for Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, has inaugurated a special four-man team to curtail encroachment on the federal highway in Magodo.
The ministry’s Spokesman, Mr Mukaila Sanusi, said in a statement in Lagos on Monday that the commissioner inaugurated the team due to indiscriminate construction on the road setbacks.
Members of the team include the General Manager, Lagos State Urban Renewal Authority, Mrs Ajibike Shomade, and Acting General Manager, Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Agency, Mr Waheed Kazeem.
Others are Director, Physical Planning Department, Mrs Bola Aliu, and Director, Regional and Masterplan, Mr Lateef Oladehinde.
The commissioner, according to the statement, gave the team two weeks to deliver on its mandate.
Salako, who was alarmed at the rate of indiscriminate construction on the alignment, charged the team to ensure ”removal of all illegal structures in the area, starting from Otedola end to Ikosi end of CMD Road”.
He said it was wrong for anyone to illegally take over urban spaces for development purposes, despite repeated warnings by government against such acts inimical to the state’s sustainable physical development.
The commissioner said that illegalities would not be tolerated and pledged the state government’s commitment to protection of reserved lands.
He said that the special team would assist in reclaiming reserved areas and regulate physical development.
Salako urged the team to work assiduously in discharging its mandate.