Despite Lagos State government’s attempt at enforcing orderliness in environmental spaces, the inability to follow up in some areas is becoming an albatross to the development plan of a mega city.

The Guardian gathered that in the last few weeks, not only has the state government reclaimed swathes of setbacks encroached into during development of residential and corporate buildings, it has also been able to reclaim public spaces colonised and illegally occupied.

But as a resident of Iyana-Iba said, ‘what is worrisome is government’s follow-up’: “It has not been consistent, as most times, these places are left unattended to, thus, creating room for the illegal occupants to come back.”

Spots reclaimed these past weeks include under bridges, open spaces, setbacks and ramps that were used for all manner of activities including commercial and residential purposes.

So, from Iganmu Bridge to Doyin, Orile, Alaba, Mile 2, Festac First Gate, Alakija, Abule-Ado, Iyana-Iba, Alaba-Rago and a host of other places within the state, public and open spaces illegally occupied have been reclaimed.

The Guardian checks revealed that in Mile 2, Festac, Alakija and Iyana-Iba, to mention a few, where occupants built shops, mini-warehouses, offices, betting houses and workshops within the colonised spaces, the state has ensured environmental sanity. Many of these places were reclaimed four weeks ago, some more recent, however.

Investigations showed that though those expelled suffered losses, because many had erected all kinds of permanent structures within these spaces, the government, no doubt, had to spend some fund on the evictions amid lean resources. It cost government to mobilise equipment and personnel, including security agents to these sites to effect the eviction, as well as demolish the illegal structures.

A visit to some of these places showed that those who were displaced during the eviction are gradually returning to re-occupy the spaces. Of note is that this is not the first time the state government would be embarking on this route of reclaiming public and open spaces.

Most times, after eviction, the state government fully occupies these public spaces by utilising them for other activities that are of public concern, they also, green the reclaimed spaces.

When the state government expelled those who turned Ikeja underbridge to motorparks and market place, it renovated and beautified the space including barricading some sections.

This did not only make the environment good, it restored some orderliness within that area. It also sent signals to the illegal occupants not to return. The state government did same at Jibowu and Ojuelegba to mention a few.

Painfully, as government leaves recently reclaimed places fallow, in some months’ time, the illegal occupants expelled will fully return to erect all forms of structures as they did in the past.

Ironically, in about a year’s time, government would be thinking of carrying out another circle of eviction and demolition, which would be at the expense of public funds that should have gone into developing dilapidated infrastructure or provide better healthcare services.

Commenting on the issue, a resident, Adeola Tajudeen, said government should be more proactive in the reclaiming of public spaces being illegally occupied as most times after driving away those who have occupied the spots, nothing is done with some of the places becoming criminal hideouts.

She commended the government for reclaiming some of the spaces being illegally occupied because they can be put to better use in the interest of a larger number of the residents, noting that, sometimes, some of these persons are often rude when challenged by those who have legitimate rights to use the spot.

“For instance, most walkways are occupied illegally by petty traders around Alaba and Surur, who feel offended that pedestrians in their bid to use the walkways kick their wares or have body contact with their goods.

“Most times they rain abuses on such pedestrians as if the walkways were meant for trading activities. Since petty traders were driven away from using walkways as trading spots in some areas, it has become a lot easier walking around those corridors. Mile 2 for example is a very busy motor park where a lot of commuters alight and board buses. But in few months time, these petty traders will return to arrogantly occupy the spots again for trading; especially the open spaces, and spills their activities into the walkways.”

She added that government representatives and law enforcement agents who should call them to order mostly embolden them to continue to trade on the walkways. “I learnt some of the petty traders who use the walkways as trading spots pay to governments and their agents. This is why some of them often have the mentality of entitlement to use the place for trading activities.”

A resident of Iba town, Onyinyechi Chukwuemaka, said that she was happy when government came to chase away those using the walkways, medians and part of the roads around Iyana-Iba bus stops for trading activities.

“Since that action, walking and commuting around Iyana-Iba has become better. So, for me, it is a good development. The issue I have is will it be sustained and those using the places for trading activities will not return to continue to obstruct the movement of both persons and vehicles around the area.”

Chukwuemeka implored the state government and all the agencies, who have oversight to ensure that those who illegally occupied the iyana-iba area for trading and commercial activities do not return.

“Some of the traders may say that is where they make their daily income, but they should be more orderly and ensure that their trading activities do not obstruct vehicular and human movements. The setbacks could be used for trading and not walkways or the road itself.”

A resident of Festac, Deborah Moses, called on the government to mandate the commercial buses that have turned the road to park to be using the open spaces around Mile 2 where mostly traders and other illegal occupants have been expelled be used as parks instead of the road.

“There is always a long chaotic traffic around Mile 2 Bus Stop, especially on the service lane because of commercial bus drivers picking or allowing passengers to alight on the road. If the open spaces around the bridge ramps are turned into parks for picking passenger, it would allow for free flow of traffic around Mile 2 Bus Stops. That is one better use the government can turn the open space into.”

Moses said that if the places are not converted into good use, it will become criminal hideout. “One good thing some of those who illegally occupied the Mile 2 area provided for commuters and passengers who needed to use the area was security. If nothing is done, and the illegal occupants did not return, criminals will begin to hide under dark night to perpetrate evil.”

On her part, John Bassey said that the places reclaimed that are not walkways could be greened and well illuminated or turned to parks for recreational activities. “But when government does this, it should ensure that the area is not only well lit, but also make available security personnel to monitor activities around the corridor because of criminal elements that may want to turn the place to hideouts.

One of the petty traders, who simply gave her name as Olamide, pleaded with the state government to allow them to continue to occupy the space, promising that they are ready to abide by whatever terms the state government gives them. She said it is where she earns her living as a widow. She added that she does not have the money to rent a shop nor does she have enough money to stock the shop if she rents one, reason she trades around bus stop.

When the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Kunle Adeshina, was contacted, he said that the evictions were done through inter-ministerial efforts, reason it is not only the Ministry of Environment that would take action on the open spaces after the eviction. He agreed that there were so many places that were illegally taken over but the state government has succeeded in chasing away the illegal occupants.

Adeshina added that what the state government does for the ones that concerns the Ministry of Environment is to ask the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) to take over the space to develop it into a garden park.

He further said that at times to develop some of the open spaces into gardens, LASPARK partners with private companies to develop the spaces into parks, but has been slowed down because of the down turn in the economy.

“What we do again is to have the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officers to patrol some of these places to prevent illegal occupants from colonising the places. Of note is that some of these places were parks but illegally occupied before they were driven away.

“It is not a one-off thing, the Physical Planning Ministry is involved too, and there are other agencies too. But I know this is a new year and immediately Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu signs the budget, I am sure everything would come on stream.”

The Assistant Director, Ministry of Physical Planning, Mukaila Sanusi, was also contacted on the issue, but he said the Ministry of Environment would determine what to do with the spaces.