LAGOS VOWS TO OPEN UP BLOCKED ROADS WITHIN THE ISLAND CBD
The Lagos State Government has vowed to remove all shanties and impediments erected on streets and roads within the Lagos Island Business District.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Central Business Districts, Mr Olarenwaju Olugbenga Oyerinde disclosed this at the scene of fire incidents that gutted Seven buildings in Sunny Adewale/Martins street on the Lagos Island recently.

Speaking on the need to open up the roads and streets blocked by traders, the Special Adviser said the State Government is determined to bring safety and environmental sanity to all nooks and crannies of the Lagos Island Business District by checking the illegal activities of shops and plaza owners who violate the physical planning laws of the State.

He said no amount of resistance and intimidation by miscreants parading as developers and shop owners can make the State Government go back on its resolve to clean up the entire Lagos Island Business District.

He decried the nuisance constituted by shop owners and street traders who are in the habit of displaying their wares and goods on walkways and roads thereby obstructing the smooth flow of vehicular and human traffic.

The Special Adviser said “Lagos State Government has observed with dismay the gross abuse of environment laws and urban planning by the street traders, shops and plaza owner who have converted access roads and streets to markets. These environmental and physical law abuse thriving in these business district can no longer be tolerated which necessitated the decision to clear and open up all blocked roads within the business ”.
He said there have been situations whereby ambulances, fire fighters and police were prevented from getting to emergency scenes on time due to blocked street by traders.

“Its very unfortunate that in events of disasters such as fire outbreaks or building collapse, emergency responders find it difficult to get to the point of distastes, so this illegality cannot continue, we shall continue to open and clean up streets and roads that have been converted to markets. We will no longer tolerate shanties and extension of shops into the roads” the Special Adviser said.

Oyerinde reiterated the determination of the present administration led by Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to restore the original master plan of Island Business Districts and its adjourning axis by checking the activities of street traders and developers who have converted all available spaces like walkways, streets and roads to shops.

The Special Adviser called on traders especially those selling on the streets and walkways to remove their extensions and makeshift shops from the roads immediately. He also called on street urchins and area boys parading as developers to desist from supporting the illegality of converting streets and roads to market forthwith or face the full wrath of the law.

On the Fire Incidents that occurred within the Business District, the Special adviser advised traders to be safety conscious at all time and promised to continually educate stakeholders from corporate organizations, markets leaders, Community Development Associations, residents and road transport unions on causes of fire outbreaks in homes, offices and market places, prevention and management in the event of occurrences.

While urging residents to make effective use of 112 and 767 emergency number in time of fire outbreak or other emergency situations, the Special Adviser advocated the compulsory installations of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in homes, offices and business premises as part of measures to curb incessant fire outbreaks in the State.